Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the Tancredo Amendment.

I have always been a strong advocate of efforts that give Hispanics and other minorities greater access to our financial services system.

Whether that means providing more financial literacy programs or approving the use of the matricula consular card, we must do what it takes to make sure that every person in this country can live the American dream.

That is why I am here today.

When we look to the future, we have to make sure that it includes people of all races and all colors. We must give all members of our society the tools they need to fully participate and benefit from our great democracy.

Unfortunately, there are those in this body who are trying to shut the doors on our immigrant community.

They do not care that there are as many as 10 million American households that do not have bank accounts. That is not acceptable.

Hispanics deserve the same opportunity others have to buy a home, invest in a business, pay for a college education, and improve the financial security of their families.

How do we do this? We do this by giving everyone the keys that open the doors to our financial system.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to open a bank account or get a credit card. We cannot have a society of ``haves'' and ``have-nots.''

That is why Arrowhead Credit Union in my district, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and credit unions and banks across the country support the use of the matricula consular.

They understand that when you hurt our most vulnerable members of our society, we all lose.

The support that financial institutions have given to these cards is matched by the support we have received from local law enforcement organizations.

In my district, the Rialto police department recently decided to accept matricula consular cards, joining the police departments in Chino, Colton, Fontana, Indio, Redlands, San Bernardino, and Upland.

There are now more than 100 law enforcement agencies in California that accept the matricula card.

I trust our local law enforcement officers, our first responders, to protect our communities. I urge you to do the same.

I urge all my colleagues to vote NO on the Hostettler/Gallegly/ Tancredo amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in favor of this amendment that I helped develop in collaboration with Representatives Thompson and Ballance. This amendment is important because it restores funding to help end discrimination and prioritizes other significant funding to help minorities in the field of agriculture.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has institutional problems that must be resolved.

The problems within the USDA are so severe that the civil rights complaints have cost the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and awards.

Fixing the civil rights complaint process and properly funding minority initiatives are necessary to permanently end a history of discrimination.

The USDA Inspector General, General Accounting Office, and the USDA Civil Rights Action Team have all written numerous reports documenting the problems at the Office of Civil Rights. Yet, employees responsible for discrimination settlements remain employed and the system as a whole remains unchanged.

In attempt to reform the problems at the USDA, we created the office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to oversee reform at the agency. But sadly, we have failed to fully fund this office.

Investing in the elimination of discrimination at the USDA will not only help save the federal government money in the long run, but it will help save employees and farmers the heartache and humiliation associated with discrimination.

Discrimination is morally reprehensible, and an unnecessary expense to the federal government. We must invest in the agency in order to correct the wrongs.

This amendment is also crucial to help end discrimination because it increases funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions by $600,000. These institutions are great sources of innovation and deserve funding to continue generating advances in agricultural science. We must stop the long-standing practice of under funding these institutions.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support these modest investments that will yield greater savings from discrimination lawsuits and earn goodwill with the minority agriculture community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1472, the Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2003.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this bill.

For the past 2 years, the Bush Administration and the GOP have claimed that they are about educating children. But with this bill, Republicans are proving that they do not.

Where is the money that Republicans promised with the No Child Left Behind Act? The bill shortchanges our children by nearly $8 billion dollars.

This bill slows increases in education spending from 19 percent to 4 percent.

Republicans have promised to leave no child behind but under this bill, it is clear, many many children are being left behind.

How can we give tax cuts to the wealthy and take away from our children the right to a good education?

This bill will dramatically affect many school districts around this nation, but it will especially hurt my community--San Bernardino County California.

This bill cuts $64 million in funding for programs that help non- English speaking students learn to speak the language.

This bill completely ignores the needs of children in our public schools today. Today, 4.5 million children with limited English skills speak more than 460 languages.

The number of children who need help learning English has more than doubled over the past decade.

These children live in every state and are enrolled in half of our Nation's school districts. But I know that with this cut many children in my district will be left behind.

Places like the Ontario-Montclaire school district, where more than half of the students have limited English.

They need this money. Their children deserve a better chance at life too.

And nearly 40 percent of the children in the Fontana school system and nearly seventy percent of the students in the Rialto school system have limited English skills.

These school systems need this funding. How do we expect teachers to teach, when they do not even speak the same language as the students.

Students who can't read or write English have a greater likelihood of dropping out of school and have a greater chance of being in poverty for the rest of their lives.

Of the 530,000 Latino dropouts, one in three is an immigrant with limited English.

But this bill not only increases the likelihood that students will drop out, it practically guarantees it.

Under this bill $11 million is eliminated from the Drop Out Prevention Grants.

Every year, nearly 15 percent of young Latinos between the ages of 16 and 19 drop out of school. This is twice as high as the dropout rate for Anglo children.

Children who drop out of school are more likely to commit a crime or end up in prison. And they are 67 percent more likely to become involved in drugs or alcohol.

We need to find ways to motivate these students to stay in school, not discourage them by denying them English language skills and a proper education.

I oppose this bill in the name of all of the Latino children in my district that will be harmed by these education cuts.

We must find a way to get districts the money they need to help our children and Republicans must find a way to keep their promises.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the amendment that will help address a growing problem in our Nation today. My amendment asks for more funding for teachers so that they can be trained to address the needs of students who are of limited English, or speak English as a second language.

In our school systems, the faces that fill our classrooms are diverse. No longer are our students simply Anglo, English-speaking, American born children. Rather, they are children from many different races and cultural backgrounds, speaking many different languages. But sadly, our teachers are not given the proper tools or training they need to address this growing diversity.

Our teachers are left to their own devices to try to communicate with a classroom of children who do not speak the same language as the instructor. Because we do not give teachers the resources to teach students with limited English skills, many students are being left behind all across this nation. Students with limited English skills are more likely to drop out of school.

We need to build their self-esteem and confidence; otherwise they are more likely to get involved with drugs and alcohol. They are more likely to commit crimes. We need trained teachers who are able to reach out to students with limited English skills and stop them from dropping out of school. Every child deserves an education! Every child deserves to be taught! Every child deserves the access to opportunity!

Education opens the door for opportunity, but for many children with limited English, the doors will always remain shut if they do not learn to read, speak, and write in English!

The need for qualified teachers who can teach students with limited English skills exists not only in states with large immigrant populations like California, Florida, and Texas, but it exists all across the United States! That is why funding to train teachers properly is so crucial!

Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Missouri all reported an increase of over 40 percent in students with limited English! This is not merely a problem in California; it is a problem all over this country! And we cannot ignore it any longer!

Hispanics represent over 14 percent of the total population. It isn't fair to the teachers and it isn't fair to the students if we don't train them! That is why, even here in the Capital, many Congressional members are taking Spanish classes to learn the language and the ability to communicate to their new diverse constituents. School districts are suffering due to a lack of teachers properly trained in teaching English as a Second Language!

In North Carolina there are only 900 qualified teachers for 53,000 students with limited English! In Wisconsin, schools districts that may have had only 8 students with limited English now have as many as 65 today. In Idaho, almost 18,000 limited English students are enrolled in their public school system but research indicates that nearly 40 percent will drop out by the 10th grade!

The fact is that immigrants exist, they are increasingly settling in rural communities not accustomed to immigrants, and are sending their kids to schools that do not know how to educate these children. Our country is a nation of new faces who need and deserve an education.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and help the countless school districts throughout our nation who need our help.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Bruce Anthony Casella, who will be appointed as Brigadier General in the Army Reserve and is an individual of great distinction, and we join with family and friends in honoring his remarkable achievements and expressing pride in this recognition that has been afforded to him;

Whereas, Bruce is a remarkable individual who has devoted his life to serve his country and to proudly protect the citizens of the United States and his unyielding energy and passionate spirit render him a key member of his community and a vital resource to our country;

Whereas, since his graduation from Colfax High School, where he graduated second in his class and lettered in Football and Track, Bruce has worked in varying capacities, providing crucial support to the military community and from his appointment to West Point by Congressman Harold Johnson, where he graduated with honors and received a B.S. degree in engineering and the rank of First Lieutenant, to his tours in Germany and Korea as a regular Army Captain, he has fought tirelessly for our country and its people through his contributions to the management and administration of the U.S. Army;

Whereas, in addition to these contributions, Bruce has received Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Systems Management and currently works for Agile Communications, Inc. as the Principal Systems Architect and his specific efforts are focused on providing information to the Army on system engineering, communications, networking, and modeling and simulations;

Whereas, I join today with his wife, Catherine, his daughter, Heather, and his sister, Paula, in their joy at this wonderful honor he will receive, knowing he is an inspiration to our country and a patriot in every sense of the word: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, Mr. Speaker, that we salute Bruce Anthony Casella and express admiration he will receive this wonderful and well-deserved honor and hope that others may recognize the immense service he has provided for the people of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug & Modernization Act of 2003.

This Republican plan is bad for seniors! It's bad for Hispanics! And it's simply bad for the American people!

For millions of Americans, this plan will replace traditional Medicare with vouchers that won't guarantee benefits.

It forces seniors into risky HMO plans and new private fee-for- service plans that will not cover all of seniors' costs!

Forty-seven percent of seniors in Medicare will have a $1,900 gap in their drug coverage. How are our seniors supposed to make up for that gap?

How are our parents and grandparents going to afford that! Most seniors are on fixed incomes with nothing to spare!

Forty percent of poor and disabled seniors won't get the additional help they need to pay deductibles and premiums. 40 percent.

This plan will not give taxpaying pregnant women and children benefits!

It will not help the twenty million Hispanics without Health insurance!

And it will not help our parents and grandparents pay for their medicines!

We must take care of our seniors! We must not gamble with their health and well-being. Seniors deserve to be protected in a safe and fair healthcare plan.

In my district, San Bernardino, California, seniors are boarding buses to Tijuana so they can afford to buy prescription drugs.

Our seniors have to go all the way to Mexico to get the life-saving medicine they need. Mexico!

This is not safe and it is not fair.

I am angered when I think about all of the people that the Republicans are leaving behind in this plan!

Why are we letting this happen to our abuelos? Our parents and grandparents? How can we be so heartless?

When I think about this plan, I think about all of the seniors who can't afford life saving prescription drugs.

I think about the senior who has glaucoma and prostate cancer and makes only $8,000 a year.

Like 750,000 other Hispanics, he won't get help paying for his prescription drugs, because he is lucky enough to have assets and owns a car.

According to Republicans, that is wealthy!

They will give tax breaks to millionaires, but under their plan, a man who makes $8,000 a year and is lucky enough to own a car, is too wealthy to get medicines that will ease his pain and save his life!

This is an outrage!

Under the Republican plan he would have to sell his car and pass an assets test to be poor enough to receive aide for low-income seniors.

When I think about this plan, I think about the senior who might make $10,000 a year.

That senior will pay one-fifth of his or her income to cover the Republican coverage gap.

One-fifth! This won't get him off the bus to Tijuana!

Like 63 percent of Americans, seniors in my district want and need the security of Medicare.

Under the Republican plan they may start in Medicare.

But after a couple of years, Medicare will only be a voucher program and where will seniors be?

In an HMO plan and still in a pharmacy in Tijuana buying medicine.

My constituents deserve better than the Republican plan!

They deserve more!

They deserve the Democratic plan that we have been fighting for for years!

A plan that cares about the health and safety of America's seniors!

A plan that actually works for America's seniors!

A plan that offers coverage to all seniors--even Hispanics!

It's time to take seniors off the bus to Tijuana!

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Supreme Court decided to support the hopes and dreams of millions of Hispanic children. It tells them they will have the same opportunities, the same choices, the same future that others will. The Court was loud and clear when it said that diversity can be used by colleges and universities in their admissions policies.

This is a victory for the American people and for everything our country stands for. And we have this victory despite President Bush's efforts to undermine minority access to higher education. While saying he supports diversity, President Bush has actively worked to outlaw affirmative action at the University of Michigan and across the country. We cannot accept excuses. We cannot justify smoke and mirrors. The President says that considering race or ethnic background is unfair, but affirmative action programs are forward-focused to combat discrimination and promote diversity. I know that, the military knows that, corporate America knows that, and the 39 million Hispanics in this country know that. Today, the Supreme Court has said that it knows that too. The Supreme Court ruled over 25 years ago that diversity in admissions policies added to the educational and social experiences on our college and university campuses. The Court reaffirmed that decision today.

This ruling also sends a strong message to colleges and universities in California. At the University of California, the percentage of black and Hispanic students in medical and law schools has dropped since race-conscious admissions were eliminated a few years ago.

This year, black and Hispanic students make up only 16 percent of first-year students at California's five state-run medical schools and public law schools. In contrast, in the final years of race-conscious admissions, black and Hispanics consistently accounted for more than 20 percent of enrollment at these same schools. Acceptance rates for Hispanic applicants in the entire University of California system has dropped from 64 percent in 1997 to 47 percent in 2002. What is happening to those other students? They are not just numbers!!! They are people whose lives will be changed forever.

Today, fewer than 10 percent of college-aged Hispanics go on to higher education. Only 16 percent of Hispanics between the ages of 25- 29 have Bachelor's degrees. What do these numbers tell us? It tells us that we do not have the same educational opportunities that others have.

President Bush says that we should not be satisfied with the current numbers of minorities on American college campuses. He's right. But other than nice words, what does he offer? He says one thing, then does another. He has followed budget cuts and funding freezes of programs that benefit Hispanic children with an attack on Hispanic educational opportunities.

The Bush Administration tried to find yet another way to hinder our children's chances to an equal and quality education. We are fortunate that he failed in his effort to leave even more children behind.

This loss for the Bush Administration and for its policies is a victory for every child that wants an opportunity for a better education and a better life.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of pride that I rise today, on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, to pay tribute to the memory of Ray Abril, Sr.

Ray Abril, Sr. was a pillar of the community, a surrogate father, a molder of character, a counselor, a coach, a builder of men. Mr. Abril passed away Sunday, May 18, 2003. He was 93 years old. To the youth of Boy Scout Troop 45 of south Colton during 1942 to 1962, he was their mentor and Scoutmaster.

On May 17, 2003, former Scouts, members of the Abril family, and community leaders gathered to pay tribute to this great man of honor. They came from near and far, over 300 strong to honor him and to provide the testimony to the positive impact Mr. Abril had on the young people of San Bernardino County.

To Ray Abril, the Boy Scouts of America and the organization of his troop was paramount. His patrol leaders were as older brothers, who taught and quizzed the new members on their way to the rank of ``Tenderfoot.'' They learned knot tying, how to roll up sleeping bags, and how to pitch a tent. Through all of this, he did not coddle them; he let them move forward at their own pace and make mistakes. But he was always there to guide them when necessary. And guide them he did, but always in a clear direction and the young boys always admired and respected him.

I will remember Ray Abril, Sr. as a man who left his mark on history as a devoted and supportive husband, father, statesman, community leader, Boy Scout leader, mentor and a man of irrefutable wisdom. His remarkably full life is a model to all as an embodiment of the vibrant and dynamic spirit of a true American. My Barbara and I extend to the Abril family the thoughts and prayers of a grateful Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1528--the Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act. This bill contains an amendment that will hurt the thousands of workers entitled to the health benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act. These benefits were created so that workers who lost their jobs to overseas labor could have access to healthcare.

But instead making sure that American workers are protected or that our working families are protected, Republicans are cutting those few benefits workers have to help them during times of unemployment. Don't they care about the hardworking Americans? Why are Republicans passing tax cuts for the wealthy and cutting benefits that help those that need it most?

One of the most devastating effects of job loss is the loss of health care coverage. These health credits pay 65 percent of the cost of health care premiums for unemployed workers. The McCrery amendment allows workers to keep these health credits, but only if they surrender all consumer protections. This is wrong! Workers need consumer protections because the health credits are useless otherwise.

What about the middle-aged welder with a heart condition who will be deemed uninsurable because he has a ``pre-existing'' condition?

What about the engineer who will have to pay twice as much for his health insurance?

What about the foreman whose routine illness is no longer covered?

This is part of the Republican plan to leave American workers behind. American workers deserve better! They deserve to have jobs available here in America and they deserve access to healthcare!

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please join me in opposing this bill unless the McCrery amendment is taken out.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 220, a resolution commending the life and accomplishments of Medgar Evers and his widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams.

History sometimes overlooks great Americans and forgets amazing accomplishments. The actions of Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams are too great, too significant to be forgotten. Their accomplishments and sacrifices should not only be footnotes. Their lives should be celebrated and honored.

H. Con. Res. 220 lets America remember the names of these civil rights heroes. Medgar Evers was field secretary of the Mississippi State NAACP and after Medgar's death Myrlie Evers-Williams became chair of the board of directors of the NAACP. They fought for civil rights. They fought for human rights. They fought for someone like me to be considered equal in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of my fellow Americans.

They set up economic boycotts of Jackson, Mississippi businesses that discriminated against African Americans. They worked for school desegregation, helping James Meredith become the first black student at the white-only University of Mississippi. Perhaps most importantly, they fought to secure voting rights for African Americans in the South.

Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams suffered greatly for their courage. They endured shouts, jeers, and threats of violence. And then on June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers was assassinated by white supremacists.

Unfortunately, it wasn't until after his death that Medgar Evers won the NAACP's prestigious Springarn Medal in 1963. And it wasn't until 1970 that Medgar Evers College was founded as a senior college of the City University of New York.

But today we will start singing his praise. And we will not stop. Today, we can place Medgar Evers and his widow Myrlie Evers-Williams on the list of civil rights heroes. Their names should be spoken in line with Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. People will know their stories. Know their deeds. And know their accomplishments.

It is time. It is time to remember and never forget these two great civil rights heroes. These two great Americans.

Mr. Speaker, Head Start is a time-tested program that has improved the lives of children and their families for 38 years. I am proud to say that Head Start has improved the lives of those in my home district of San Bernardino County, California.

I recently received a letter from Ms. Brenda Clayton, a Head Start staff member in San Bernardino County. In her letter, Ms. Clayton says that she sees first-hand, every day, what a difference Head Start makes to children and their parents.

Ms. Clayton writes, ``I generally see the parents at initial application or enrollment process, then I'll see these same parents 2 to 3 months later and they are excited to share with me all the good and wonderful things their child is now able to say and do, how their child has a zest for learning.''

As we face the Head Start reauthorization process, Ms. Clayton has asked me that I do everything in my authority to see that her program does not become block-granted. Unfortunately, I must face the reality that this Republican-led Congress will impose these block grants, leaving less money, less oversight and leaving even more children behind.

Under a block grant system, Head Start is not guaranteed to receive funding. We must make sure that Head Start receives funding and receives it directly so that what little funds that are given to this highly important program are not diluted even further.

It simply doesn't make sense to put the fate of Head Start into the hands of the States. Our States are bankrupt! My State of California faces a budget shortfall of $35 billion. But once again, we are forcing our cash-strapped States to pick up the tab at our children's expense.

We have already forced States to pick up the tab for the unfunded mandates of No Child Left Behind. And we're now forcing States to take over what the Federal Government has proven is a success! Republicans are taking

an essential program and completely dismantling it. It just doesn't make sense!

My Republican colleagues are at it once again--trying to limit the role of the Federal Government in public education under the excuse of ``accountability'' and better State and Federal coordination. If accountability was such a huge concern, then why does the Head Start reauthorization bill remove standards and requirements? And if States are facing such drastic budget shortfalls, then why are we tempting them with the opportunity to reduce services and transfer funds from Head Start to other services? It just doesn't make sense.

The only thing that makes sense is to bring Head Start back to its original, bipartisan state with the same strong, Federal accountability standards and increased funding so all eligible children can benefit from Head Start services. That is a program that makes sense.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1115, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2003.

H.R. 1115 is just another attempt by Republicans to deny people their fair day in court. Once again, they are siding with Goliath at the expense of David. They are siding with the big corporate interests at the expense of the public interest. They are siding with their campaign contributors at the expense of the American people.

This legislation is unfair to consumers. It wrongly limits the authority of State courts, bogs down Federal courts, and makes it more difficult for consumer claims to be heard. This is a deliberate attempt b7 conservatives to protect big businesses like WorldCom, Arthur Andersen and Enron.

When a company violates the rights of consumers, consumers are entitled to have their claim go before a judge and jury in a timely manner. Republicans would love to be the judge and jury in these cases, siding with and protecting their corporate friends. But that's not the way it works.

In my home state, the University of California pension plan lost $353 million as a result of the WorldCom accounting scandal. Like many other Americans, they were victims of the fraudulent activities of Arthur Andersen.

Under H.R. 1115, the University of California would have been prevented from having their day in a State court. Instead, the suit would have been moved to Federal court, causing terrible delays and hurting those Californians who depended on their pensions.

The people of California and all across this nation deserve to have fair and easy access to a speedy judicial system.

This legislation places huge barriers in the path of consumers. It limits the rights of consumers, undermines the authority of state courts, and increases the burden on federal courts.

That sound you hear is the sound of big business applauding this legislation. They appreciate the additional time this bill would give them to shred documents, destroy evidence and cause harm to hard- working Californians and to all Americans.

It simply isn't fair and we must do more to protect our consumers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Thomas N. Jacobson, who recently won the Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Award for service to our community. Mr. Jacobson is an individual of great distinction, and we join with family and friends in honoring his remarkable achievements and expressing pride in this recognition that has been afforded to him.

Thomas is a remarkable individual who has devoted his life to helping people throughout his community. His kindness and passionate spirit render him a vital resource to his congregation and beloved community member.

For the past 25 years, Thomas has dedicated himself to the Congregation Emanu El, serving as Commission Chair, Legal Counsel, member of the Board of Managers of the Home of Eternity Cemetery, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and President. In these capacities, he has been an integral contributor to the management and administration of Congregational affairs, as well as a participant in raising crucial funds for the Congregation.

In addition to these contributions, Thomas has been a partner in the firm of Gresham, Savage, Nolan & Tilden, receiving the highest possible evaluation of his profession for integrity and performance, and has taken a proactive approach to leadership in the community.

Through his participation in countless activities and committees, Thomas has exhibited kindness, love, humility, and a deep resolve to ameliorate all aspects of community life, so it is only appropriate that he receive Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Award.

I join today with his wife, Lorie, and his daughters, Jolene and Gretchen, in their joy at this wonderful honor he has received. He is a symbol of all that is good in his profession and an inspiration to his community.

And so, Mr. Speaker, we salute Thomas N. Jacobson. We express admiration he has received this wonderful and well-deserved honor and hope that others may recognize his good works in the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this unlawful Internet funding prohibition act and in support of the Sensenbrenner-Conyers amendment.

I oppose this bill as a strong defender of tribal government, a strong advocate for tribal sovereignty, a strong believer in fairness and equity. I state, a strong believer in fairness and equity.

This bill does not treat solvent tribe governments with the same level of respect it does States. Section four of this bill provides for a carve-out for States that allows States to license Internet gaming operations for lottery, horse track, and corporate gambling operations.

Although the bill grants States with this exception, it does not provide tribal governments with the same exception. Have we not learned that it is wrong to treat our Native American brothers and sisters as second class citizens? One would think that we would know better.

Let me be clear, I will not be standing here today in opposition to this bill if tribal governments were treated equal, if tribal governments were treated equal.

I do not disagree with the principle behind this legislation, but I disagree with the effects on Native Americans and their economy. H.R. 2143 gives an unfair advantage to private gaming enterprises, and it treats tribal governments and their industry as inferior.

Just when we think that the centuries of mistreatment and discrimination are ending, something like this comes up or shows up. Once again, Congress is trying to put tribal government at a disadvantage. Once again, Congress is trying to put tribal government at a disadvantage; and once again, I will stand up and defend the sovereignty of our tribal governments. I will stand up and make sure that our government lives up to its responsibility, lives up to their responsibility.

Gaming provides the financial resources the tribes need to survive and bring economic development to their people. It provides resources. The tribal governments need to provide health, education and hope for their people. It is the livelihood of our Native American brothers and sisters.

I will not stand by and watch Congress put tribes behind the eight ball once again.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 2143 and ``yes'' on the Sensenbrenner amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question. Defeating the previous question allows us to discuss H.R. 2286 introduced by Congressman Rangel to grant the Child Tax Credit to the thousands of needy families wrongfully ignored by the Republican majority.

When the conference report on the Republican tax cut was finished, the dividend tax cut got bigger and tax credits for working families got smaller. It is unconscionable that we are willing to sacrifice Child Tax Credits for the poorest in our society, so that we can give more money to the wealthiest.

Six and a half million families in this Nation earn $10,500 to $26,625 per year. If we do not pass a child tax credit for these families, 19 million children will be ignored. In my home State of California, nearly 1.3 million families alone, will not receive a child tax credit under the Republican's plan. These families need tax relief.

By not passing a child tax credit, 250,000 kids of active duty military families, many of whom are right now fighting overseas, will be ignored. Military families need tax relief.

Our economy is in desperate need of stimulation. Unemployment across the Nation has risen to 6.1 percent. The Hispanic unemployment rate alone is currently at 8.2 percent. America's families are suffering. They need immediate relief from the burden of a weak economy.

During this time of economic downturn we must not leave out those who are working harder for less pay or those who have recently joined the ranks of the unemployed. It is time to put working families back into the equation. America's families need our help. They need a child tax credit.

The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Florida is as follows:

Previous Question for H. Res. 263--Rule on H.R. 2143: The Unlawful

Internet Gambling Prohibition Act

At the end of the resolution add the following:

Sec. 2. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution the

House shall be considered to have taken from the Speaker's

table the bill (H.R. 1308) to amend the Internal Revenue Code

of 1986 to end certain abusive tax practices, to provide tax

relief and simplification, and for other purposes, with

Senate amendments thereto, and a single motion that the House

concur in each of the Senate amendments shall be considered

as pending without intervention of any point of order. The

Senate amendments and the motion shall be considered as read.

The motion shall be debatable for one hour equally divided

and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of

the Committee on Ways and Means. The previous question shall

be considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption

without intervening motion or demand for division of the

question.