Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise to engage the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) of the Committee on Education and the Workforce in a colloquy.

During our full committee consideration of H.R. 27, I offered and withdrew an amendment to ensure that data on high school-aged students participating in adult education programs is publicly available and reported to our committee.

We already know that 30 percent of our high school students fail to earn diplomas with their peers. In the Hispanic community, that figure is nearly 50 percent. Many of our adult education providers report that high school-aged students are flooding their programs. We cannot continue to allow our high school students to slip through the cracks. Our first step in shining the light on this issue is to make sure that we have accurate and regularly reported data.

At full committee, the gentleman offered to work with me to ensure that these concerns are addressed in the reports that our committee received from the Department of Education.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, the chairman is correct. The Department already collects this data and would be able to highlight this information in its annual report to Congress with very little additional work. It is simply a matter of clearly communicating to the Department that we would like to see focused information on high school-aged students in adult education reported by race, ethnicity, language proficiency, and program enrollment.

I thank the chairman for continuing to work with me and the Department to bring this critical information to the forefront.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) for his comments.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I had to return to my district last evening and today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall 27 and 31. I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, and 30.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act. I do come from south Texas, and I was born and raised in the area, and I can speak to this situation.

The REAL ID Act turns its back on American values. If this act were to pass, America would no longer be the beacon of hope for individuals fleeing persecution. Instead, it would block victims of torture and other forms of persecution from being granted refugee status in the United States and will deport them into the hands of their persecutors.

The asylum process already includes extensive security checks, and asylum applicants are checked against data banks with DHS, with FBI, the State Department, and with the CIA.

Today's Washington Post reports that individuals seeking asylum in this country are often mistreated and incarcerated with criminals in the name of security as their cases are being processed. Our national policy must not be to add to the sufferings of refugees. This legislation will compound the problem.

This legislation undermines the bipartisan Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Protection Act that we passed just a few months ago. It deletes security provisions of the Intelligence Reform Act that had the overwhelming support of both parties, including, one, establishing minimum standards for driver's licenses and identification cards necessary to gain access to Federal facilities; two, establishing identification procedures to board a plane; and, three, mandating a GAO study on potential weaknesses in the U.S. asylum system.

The REAL ID Act attempts to shift the burden of immigration enforcement to the States, and immigration is a Federal responsibility. It is time for us to take that responsibility seriously and pass real comprehensive immigration reform.

I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join in paying tribute to one of our colleagues whom we lost so unexpectedly on New Year's Day.

Bob Matsui was one of the most respected Members of this House. During his 26 years of service in Congress, he was an advocate for our Nation's seniors, our children, and for social and economic justice.

From his family's experience in the Japanese internment camps during World War II, Bob learned the importance of protecting the liberties and civil rights that are the foundation of this great country. As an Asian-American he understood the obstacles that minorities face in building opportunities for themselves and their families.

Bob Matsui rose quickly to become a leader in this House because of his political savvy and his detailed knowledge of the issues.

He was dedicated to this House and its institutions. He was also dedicated to the ideals of the Democratic party. We all know how tirelessly he worked as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Many will remember Bob for his leadership in our party and on the critical national issues of trade and Social Security.

It is true that he understood the values of free trade and the economic prosperity it can provide to communities. He was not afraid to stand up against even his own party on issues in which he passionately believed. As the ranking member of the Social Security Subcommittee, Bob was also a national expert on the subject of retirement and pension.

His knowledge of the intricacies of the social security system and his wisdom will be sorely missed during this year's upcoming debate on Social Security reform.

I, however, will remember Bob for something else. I will remember him as a friend and champion of migrant children and their families. Bob helped us in the fight for funding for Migrant Education Programs. For years he also hosted a college assistance migrant intern in his office.

Many of his former interns are now leaders in their professions and communities because of the start Bob gave them.

I want to express my deepest condolences to his family: his wife Doris, his son Brian, his daughter-in-law Amy and his granddaughter Anna. I know how proud Bob was of all of them. The people of California and of this Nation have truly lost a great advocate.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a sad heart that I rise to say goodbye to six of my colleagues from Texas who will not be returning to this body next year. All of these men have been dedicated patriots who have served the State of Texas and this country with honor and distinction.

The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) has faced the challenges of serving as the dean of the Texas Democrats for years and has fought to ensure that the rules of this House are fairly enforced.

This Nation's farmers and ranchers have had no better friend or advocate than the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm). He has been our conscience on fiscal responsibility, and I hope that we will take his remarks last night to heart as we begin the budget debate next year.

After the tragic events of 9/11, we created the Select Committee on Homeland Security. As the committee's first ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), has fought to increase funding for critical infrastructure protection and has brought national attention to the serious manpower and infrastructure shortages along our southern border.

The Texas border region is losing my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), who has worked tirelessly to address the health care crisis that is facing the southern border communities. As the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus this past year, Ciro Rodriguez has continued to focus national attention on issues important to the Hispanic community.

The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Lampson) has protected our children through his national leadership on the issue of missing and exploited children.

The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sandlin) has been a strong member of the Blue Dog Caucus and was instrumental in securing our airways through his work on the Aviation Security Act.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I was proud to serve on the Committee on Financial Services with one of my newer members of the Texas delegation, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bell). He and I worked on legislation which focused on the financial literacy of all people. I appreciate his strong support of my efforts to improve math and science education in this country.

Mr. Speaker, all of these Members from Texas have given invaluable service to this Nation, and the 109th Congress will be poorer for their absence. I wish them all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the finest citizens of South Texas, Raul A. Besteiro, Jr., who passed away November 14, 2004. The Brownsville Herald called him a ``Brownsville Pioneer'' because of his groundbreaking efforts to transform the region.

For those of us committed to education and economic development, he was the ultimate role model. Mr. Besteiro dedicated his life to improving educational and economic opportunities for his hometown of Brownsville, Texas. He has left a lasting impact on the entire south Texas region.

Mr. Besteiro saw the potential of our region and committed his life's work to helping us achieve it. Whether he was preparing future scientists in the classroom, leading a school system to excellence, or promoting the economic development of our region through the Brownsville Port Authority, Raul Besteiro made south Texas a better and stronger place to live in. Let us carry out his legacy. He will be sorely missed, and we mourn his passing.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I had to return to my district. Had I been present, I would have voted yes on rollcalls 512, 513, 514, 515, 517, 518, 520, 521, 522, 523, and 525. I would have voted no on rollcalls 516, 519, 524 and 526.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to acknowledge and thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes), as well as my good friend and colleague, the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in support of H.R. 464, honoring the 2004 All-America City Award winners. One of these year's recipients, Hidalgo, Texas, is in my congressional district. The city of Hidalgo, Texas, is a small town of about 7,500 residents located along the U.S.-Mexico border.

It is home to the fourth largest U.S. port of entry and has become a vibrant center of trade and commerce since the implementation of NAFTA.

Under the leadership of Mayor John David Franz, this community has created a business-friendly environment that has led to the opening of new businesses and the creation of good-paying jobs. Taking advantage of the natural resources and rare wildlife of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the city of Hidalgo, Texas, has fostered ecotourism which brings bird watchers from throughout the world to the region's world- class birding centers.

Outstanding leaders such as former President Carter was one of the latest visitors to this beautiful city.

Recently, Hidalgo opened the new Dodge Arena, a $20 million multipurpose complex featuring a 6,800-seat arena that will be a venue for ice hockey, football, soccer, and first-class concerts. For the past 27 years, the city of Hidalgo has played host to the Borderfest, the largest and oldest heritage and music festival in south Texas. This annual festival draws thousands of visitors from all over the world.

In receiving this year's All-American City Awards, the city of Hidalgo had to compete with communities throughout the country. The selection committee looked at a variety of factors, including community achievements, creative leveraging of community resources, participation of the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and the development of quality community projects.

I want to congratulate Mayor Franz and all of the people of the city of Hidalgo on receiving this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4829, a bill to designate the U.S. Post Office in Kingsville, Texas, as the Irma Rangel Post Office Building.

First, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Tom Davis), the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), and, of course, my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for all their assistance in bringing this bill to the House floor today. I also want to thank all my colleagues in the Texas delegation for their unanimous support of this legislation.

Last year, the people of Texas lost a true Texas legend when State Representative Irma Rangel finally lost her battle with cancer. Irma Rangel was the first Mexican-American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where she served the people of the great State of Texas for 26 years.

During her tenure, she devoted her efforts to increasing the educational attainment of Hispanics, empowering Texas youth with the tools they need to succeed and bring economic development to Texas.

She was proud of her legislation that ensured that all Texas high school seniors who graduated in the top 10 percent of their class will be able to attend any public university in the State of Texas. As a former teacher, she knew that the economy of Texas depends on creating a highly educated, diverse workforce.

Irma was always ready to engage her colleagues not only on the pressing issues of the day, but also on the issues that were forgotten or ignored, but were important to average working families. She was famous for her motto, ``will it help or hurt'' and used it as a standard for judging legislation.

She was a fighter for her congressional district, and because of her relentless efforts, Texas A&M Kingsville now has a School of Pharmacy, the first such professional school in south Texas.

Irma was also a courageous example of how to live life fully, even with cancer. She survived bouts of breast and ovarian cancer before she finally succumbed to the brain cancer. When she lost all of her hair because of chemotherapy treatments, she proudly wore her bright, colorful hats on the Floor of the Texas House. She was a positive force in educating women about cancer treatment and prevention. Her fighting spirit, her courage and her passion for educational excellence will truly be missed.

It is very fitting that the U.S. Post Office in her hometown of Kingsville, Texas, should bear her name. Every Member of Congress from Texas endorsed and cosponsored this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4829.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 487, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1402, the Garza-Vela United States Courthouse Designation Act offered by my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz).

This bill pays tribute to two great men, Federal Judge Reynaldo G. Garza and Federal Judge Filemon B. Vela, who were judicial legends in South Texas.

Judge Garza was the Nation's first Mexican American Federal district judge. Appointed to the Federal bench by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, Judge Reynaldo Garza served this Nation through the turbulent years of the civil rights movement. His decisions contributed to the changes that opened up many opportunities for minorities.

In 1976, President Carter asked him to serve as the Nation's Attorney General, but he declined because he did not want to leave his beloved South Texas and his service on the Federal bench.

He was committed to education, particularly in encouraging literacy, and he was known to all for the even-handed way in which he dispensed justice.

His last official act took place from his hospital bed when he officiated at the swearing-in of his protege, Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa as the new chairman of the Federal Sentencing Commission. When he passed away a few weeks ago at the age of 89, I was privileged to join the thousands of mourners in paying tribute to this outstanding and extraordinary pioneer.

I offer his wife Bertha and all his children and grandchildren my heartfelt condolences.

Judge Vela was nominated to the Federal bench by President Carter in 1980 and worked tirelessly to design and have built the new courthouse in Brownsville. It is indeed fitting that his name will be on this new Federal Courthouse.

Judge Vela, like his good friend Judge Garza, was known for his impeccable integrity and fairness on the bench. He also was passionate about teaching children about the law and the criminal justice system in order to encourage them to make the right choices in life. He would bring inmates to school to tell children about the mistakes they had made and the consequences they suffered as a result.

Judge Vela was often heard on the radio giving advice and counsel to parents and students on the importance of education. Like Judge Garza, he was also a mentor to many others in his profession.

We lost Judge Vela earlier this year. He is survived by his beautiful wife Blanca, and his three children, Filemon, Jr., Rafael, and Sylvia.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation in and honor these two great Americans for their service to this Nation.

I rise today to commend the University of Texas Pan American on organizing the 3rd annual Hispanic Engineering Science and Technology Week (HESTEC), a national celebration, emphasizing the importance of math and science literacy by highlighting rewarding career paths in engineering, science, and technology.

The University of Texas Pan American is one of the premier Hispanic- Serving Institutions in the Nation not just because of the large number of Hispanic students that attend classes here but because of the university's longstanding and deeply rooted commitment to expanding access to education for our community. HESTEC is just one example of that commitment to our young people, our future.

We are in the midst of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month--a time to celebrate Hispanic culture and the many contributions Hispanic Americans have made to this great Nation. The University of Texas Pan American, through the HESTEC initiative, has decided to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by looking to the future.

Love of country is a fundamental value in the Hispanic community. When the nation is in need, Hispanic Americans have always answered the call to serve. It is in this fine tradition that University of Texas Pan American founded HESTEC.

HESTEC is a call to serve. It is a call to our Hispanic youth to step in and fill the pressing national need for highly trained professionals in the fields of science, engineering, and technology.

Our Nation is facing a shortage of critical proportions in the fields of math, science, engineering and technology. Science and engineering employment opportunities are increasing three times faster than all other occupations. Yet, the number of college students entering the fields of math, science and engineering continues to decline, placing America's position as the world's leader in science and technology at risk. Increasingly, Hispanics will be called upon to reverse that trend. By the year 2010, Hispanics will represent 1 out of 4 students in U.S. schools, but today only 4 percent of U.S. scientists and engineers are Hispanic. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for higher education institutions to attract more Hispanics entering the career fields of science and technology.

The University of Texas Pan American recognized that Hispanic Serving Institutions have a unique responsibility to meet this challenge and to increase the number of Hispanics in math, science, engineering and technology fields. Therefore, in October 2002, under the leadership and vision of Roland Arriola, vice president of external affairs, the university hosted the first Hispanic Engineering Science Technology Conference (HESTEC).

Since its inception, HESTEC has captured the imagination of South Texas and galvanized the community around the goal of preparing the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, engineers, and technology experts. This event has engaged our community on all

levels. Last year, HESTEC reached over 1,500 teachers, 25,000 community members, and 330,000 students from across Texas. The initiative also has generated $1 million in scholarship dollars for college students.

The University of Texas Pan American has created a model initiative for the Nation. Today, on the eve of the 3rd annual HESTEC and in the midst of our national celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, I urge my colleagues to join me in saluting this fine institution for its service to the Hispanic community and to the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to come before the House of Representatives to pay tribute to fallen heroes. My south Texas district is again mourning the loss of three more such heroes, Sergeant Juan Calderon, Jr., Specialist Tomas Garces, and Specialist Mark Anthony Zapata.

My district has now lost six brave men. The Rio Grande Valley of south Texas as a whole has lost one soldier in Afghanistan and 10 in Iraq. This represents more than 1 percent of the total lives lost in the war in Iraq.

Sergeant Juan Calderon, Jr., was a 26-year-old rifleman in the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based in Camp Pendleton, California. Although he was born and raised in Weslaco, Texas, many of his family live in the Minnesota district of my good friend, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht), who is joining me tonight.

Juan had been a Marine for more than 3 years and had received numerous awards and medals. An avid football player, he and his wife, Ana Maria, were anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child this month.

Juan was killed on August 2 conducting security and stability operations in Anbar Province in Iraq. He will never see his son, who will bear his name, Juan Andres Calderon.

Red, white and blue streamers still decorate the Garces family home, where only a few weeks ago Army Specialist Tomas Garces had come from Iraq for a brief visit. Tomas was a recent graduate of Weslaco High School, where he was a star wrestler.

He joined the 1836th Transportation Company of the Texas National Guard not just to serve his country, but also to help his family financially. He dreamed of one day becoming a wrestling coach to train others in the sport he loved. But, instead, on a road south of Baghdad, his convoy was ambushed by enemy forces, and Tomas became the first member of the Texas National Guard to die in combat since World War II.

This past Saturday, I joined the community of Weslaco at his funeral. Tomas has been recommended for a posthumous Bronze Star for his bravery during the ambush.

Army Specialist Mark Zapata came from a family with a strong military tradition. His father Daniel is a retired Army sergeant, and Mark lived on military bases as a child. The 27-year-old was a graduate of Edinburg North High School and loved music. He was the third soldier from this small community to lose his life in Iraq. He was a musician who liked to DJ and play the trumpet and keyboard. He was also proud to be a volunteer firefighter and loved nothing more than visiting local schools to teach children about fire safety. He even trained his dog Rollie to be a search and rescue dog.

Mark joined the Army 6 years ago and was a tank gunner stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He was killed on August 15 in Najaf, Iraq.

When you hear the stories that friends and families tell about Juan, Tomas and Mark, you understand just how special all three of these young men were. They were role models to their peers, devoted sons, loving husbands, loyal friends and active in their communities.

All could have chosen to use their talents in other career paths, yet they chose the path of military service.

South Texas has sent generations of its sons and daughters into military service and, in this most recent conflict, has lost a disproportionate number of its young people and its future leaders.

Yes, Juan, Tomas and Mark volunteered to defend this country and protect our freedom, all the while knowing it might cost them their lives. They are true heroes, and we owe them more than we can ever repay.

For their friends and families left behind, we offer our prayers and the comfort of knowing that the sacrifices of

these young lives will not be forgotten. To those still on the front lines, we pledge our unity, our support and our prayers for their safety and speedy return back home.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 444, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of and as a proud cosponsor of this amendment. I want to thank my colleagues for all their support, especially the chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) for offering this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I have been working on the matricula consular I.D. card issue for quite some time with a number of different groups and individuals. I want to express my particular appreciation for all the assistance that the Democratic leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), and their staff have provided during that time.

On February 13, 2003, I introduced H.R. 773, entitled the 21st Century Access to Banking Act. My legislation would authorize U.S. financial institutions to accept the matricula consular I.D. card as valid forms of identification for the purpose of opening an account, thus bringing unbanked individuals into the U.S. banking system and resulting in a more efficient regulation of currency in the United States.

My legislation would result in an increased infusing of cash into our banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions and, ultimately, our economy on the whole.

This legislation would allow hardworking families to enter the mainstream U.S. financial system. It would enable them to open checking and savings accounts, establish a credit history and possibly even eventually purchase a car or home. It would help improve our sagging economy by enabling these struggling families to avoid being preyed upon by sometimes unscrupulous check cashers and payday lenders.

The chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), was kind enough to hold the first hearing on the importance of the matricula consular card to the U.S. economy and to the economies of our trading partners, And I want to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Bachus for holding this hearing at my request and for supporting the card.

I was also pleased when Treasury promulgated its rule on section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, allowing financial institutions to accept the matricula card as a form of identification. However, I was deeply disappointed when the House Committee on Appropriations adopted an amendment to this legislation that would ban certain Hispanics from using their matricula consular I.D. card to open an account at a financial institution in the United States.

When it is adopted, this amendment we offer today will right that wrong. Because the United States is a party to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, we do not have the authority to prevent Mexican consulates from issuing the matricula consular I.D. card to Mexican nationals residing in this country. Similarly, foreign countries do not have the right to prevent United States consulates from issuing similar cards to its citizens overseas.

I want to stress this latter point. Our United States does issue cards similar to the matricula card to its own citizens in foreign countries. It seems to me that the question then becomes whether or not we should allow financial institutions in the United States to accept the card as a valid form of I.D. to open an account. The answer to that question is a very simple yes.

Should my colleagues vote to overturn the misguided anti-matricula card language currently in this bill? The answer is yes. The card is a safe, reliable form of identification. The card has over a dozen security features, including a hologram and infrared band. As the Washington Times reported in 2002, the matricula card is ``A high-tech I.D. that is more fraud proof than many State driver's licenses.''

Approximately 163 counties, 1,180 police departments, 377 cities, 33 States and 178 financial institutions accept the matricula card as a valid form of identification.

The police departments support the use of the card because it helps undermine the market for illegal identification and fraudulent documents. It helps them to quickly identify witnesses, victims, and suspects.

Immigrants with consular identification are more likely to report crimes and cooperate in police investigations. These police departments do not believe that the acceptance of the card by financial institutions will increase immigration.

Despite what its detractors and opponents might claim, the card does not legalize the status of any immigrant.

It cannot be used to obtain any immigration or citizenship benefits such as work authorization or to obtain public benefits. It cannot be used to cross the U.S./Mexico border, and it is only available to foreign nationals already in the United States. Moreover, Mexican consulates clearly explain the nature of the document to assure their Nationals know that the card does not regularize their immigration status.

If we allow financial institutions to continue to use the card, with consultations between the U.S. and Mexican governments, the result will not only be an improvement in the U.S. economy. It will also lead to increased transparency and strength in our line of defense against terrorists gaining access to our financial institutions.

For these reasons and more, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support and vote ``yes'' on the Oxley-Frank-Kolbe-Pastor-Hinojosa amendment.