Joe Baca

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to honor the 25th Anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino and the leadership of Bishop Barnes. In 1978, Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of San Bernardino. Serving over 1,000,000 Catholics in ninety-seven parishes, the Diocese has served as the moral compass and religious center to the citizens of San Bernardino. Not only has the Diocese of San Bernardino served the Catholic citizens of San Bernardino, its thirty-four Catholic schools have provided quality education to 8,500 students of all faiths and its two Catholic hospitals continue to save lives and keep the residents of San Bernardino healthy. Since 1996, Bishop Gerald Barnes has led the Diocese of San Bernardino. Always a devoted teacher and educator, Bishop Barnes has also dedicated himself to fighting against the injustices that people of all races and backgrounds face. Under the guidance of the founding Bishop, Phillip Straling and then Bishop Barnes, the Diocese has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all citizens of San Bernardino. I am pleased to honor the 25th anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino and the leadership of Bishop Barnes.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. 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.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased that Congress has recognized the important role that Catholic Schools play in our community. As a Latino, I know the important place that Catholic education has had in my district. The Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, CA, is highly regarded for its academic and athletic excellence. The San Bernardino Diocese School System under Bishop Gerald Barnes has made major investments into their school system to bring students into the 21st century. Even though I am a strong supporter of public schools, I understand the importance of Catholic schools in our Nation's education and the values they instill in our students. The quality of education provided at Catholic schools is truly remarkable, and deserving of high honors. Not only do they focus on academic achievement but they also build strong moral foundations for young people. Their curriculums are often full of programs in character development and community service. Catholic school students graduate with a wide variety of skills that will not only help them in their careers but also in their family and community life. I am please to support this resolution honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 677, for personal reasons, due to my illness, 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 ``no'' on the motion that House Resolution 474 be laid on the table.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of American Diabetes Month. In order to combat this deadly disease, we must focus on prevention, education and diet. Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the nation. In California, there are about 2 million people with this disease. In my home county of San Bernardino over 100,000 have been diagnosed. While this disease affects people of all walks-of-life, Hispanics are particularly vulnerable. Hispanics are almost two times as likely to develop Diabetes as non-Hispanic Whites. Twenty-four percent of Mexican-Americans in the United States currently have diabetes. Almost two million Hispanics struggle with the disease. I don't have diabetes but my parents, my brother and my brother-in- law did. My father died of diabetes along with my brother. They didn't take care of it. We had a large family and could not afford health care. Growing up, we ate what we could afford and too much of our diet contained foods like tortillas and frijoles that cause health problems and can eventually lead to diabetes. There was no health education or awareness. They didn't know how to take care of their diabetes. When they were diagnosed with diabetes they ignored it and it cost them their lives. Fortunately, this disease can often be prevented. We must educate our children and communities about the dangers of this disease. That is why American Diabetes Month is so important. We need to teach children prevention. The lifestyles they adopt today will carry over into their adult years. We are placing children at risk when we allow them to come home day after day, play videogames, sit in front of the TV and snack on soda and chips. Children eat what their parents eat and can afford. Eating a diet of high sugary foods--like tortillas, rice, and chips--at every meal is teaching our children unhealthy habits. To help educate our children and our communities I participated in an educational video with Edward James Olmos and Liz Torres. This video, which comes in English and Spanish, helps educate Hispanics and all Americans about the disease. Additionally, with the help of Congressman Putnam and Cardoza, we recently introduced legislation that would allow schools across the country to serve fresh fruits and vegetables in school lunch programs. This will help children afford to eat healthy and stay healthy. I have been active in leading the charge to restore food stamp benefits to hard working immigrants, so that their children may have access to the healthier foods that help prevent diabetes. But it is not enough to just educate people. We also must make sure that preventative screening and medical services are affordable and available to all Americans. One of the biggest problems in early prevention is financial. People do not have the resources to seek medical help so the problems escalate. In California, the cost of diabetes per person per year is approximately $13,243. If they have additional problems, like dialysis, syringes, medications, or other items, the cost goes up an additional $8,500. Now the cost is over $22,000. The healthcare costs of a person with diabetes are about 2\1/2\ times higher than the average person's healthcare costs. How can an uninsured person in this country afford $22,000 when some don't even make that much in a year? To help those that can't afford to take care of their diabetes, I have co-sponsored the Diabetes Prevention, Access and Care Act and the Access to Diabetes Screening Services Act. These bills will increase access to diabetes screening, treatment and prevention in minority communities and all communities that are affected by Diabetes. In the spirit of American Diabetes Month, we must not only look to legislation to help those that suffer from diabetes but we must educate our communities. We must take a personal interest. We must become involved on a personal level. American Diabetes Month is a great opportunity to educate all Americans on how to help prevent diabetes.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition of the Republican Conference Report on H.R. 1. I oppose this Republican plan because it is bad for seniors. It's bad for California. And it's simply bad for the American people. There are 40 million seniors across this Nation that need a safe and reliable healthcare plan that protects them, whether they are sick or not. This plan will not help seniors. This is a $400 billion plan that will privatize care and cost seniors more than they pay now. This plan is similar to having car insurance that doesn't really protect you. You're fine as long as you don't get into an accident. Seniors are only fine under this plan if they don't get sick. But because of privatization, when a senior gets sick, this plan offers no guarantee that their premium will stay the same or that their carrier will continue to cover them. Under Medicare, seniors at least had a guarantee that they would be insured. They at least had a guarantee that if they got sick; someone would be looking out for them. Under this plan, privatization could force as many as 7 million seniors into HMO's. Seven million. How is this fixing Medicare? Who is this guaranteeing that all seniors have coverage? Our parents and grandparents deserve better. They do not need privatization. They need to know they are going to be insured. They need to know that they are going to be protected despite the cost. Under this plan, there is a $2,800 gap that will leave millions of seniors without drug coverage. This plan leaves seniors uninsured for part of the year despite the fact that they are paying premiums. Much like car insurance, if you knew your car wasn't going to be insured for half of the year, you wouldn't drive it. But we can't do that with our health. Seniors can't say I just won't get sick. It doesn't work that way. In my district of San Bernardino, California, we have seniors who board buses to travel down to Tijuana to purchase life saving prescription drugs. Will this plan help the seniors in my district get off that bus? No. If we pass this bill, seniors will still have to travel to Mexico to get their prescriptions. The practice of forcing seniors to go across the border must stop. We have no way of knowing what our seniors are actually purchasing. This isn't safe and it isn't fair. This bill could actually raise the cost of prescription drugs for over 6 million low-income seniors, and one in six Hispanics. In my home state of California, almost 900,000 will have to pay more. Those are the people in my district. Those are the people that are risking their lives, going across the border, to purchase their prescriptions. And this bill does nothing to help them. The Republicans are ignoring what seniors need. Under this plan, over 3 million low-income seniors are going to be forced to pass a test before they get help paying for prescription drugs. If you are a senior and you simply own a home, a car, or even a burial plot you could be considered too wealthy to get help with prescription drugs, under this plan. If you are a homeowner, you'd better catch the bus for Tijuana because that is the only way you will be able to afford your prescription drugs because the Republicans think that you are too wealthy. Many seniors in my district have worked hard their entire lives trying to put food on the table for their families. Many of them have been fortunate enough to have some health coverage from their employers. Under this plan, 3 million retirees could lose that coverage. That affects over 250,000 seniors alone in California. This plan leaves the seniors in my district will no option but privatized healthcare. Our abuelos, our grandparents, have worked too long and too hard to be ignored. They need a prescription drug coverage that preserves traditional Medicare, helps low-income seniors afford prescription drugs and keeps retirees in employer sponsored health plans. It's time to give seniors what they want, what they need, and what they deserve.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3157. I am proud to support this legislation that will help farmers recover from national disasters because I believe that far too often, farmers are not thought of during times of emergency. Representative Blunt has authored a good bill. I supported it in the House Agriculture Committee and I even introduced an amendment that would make sure that the people in my home State of California, who suffered from the recent wildfires, could be helped by this bill. Too many Californians have no idea how they will get by without their orchards, olive groves, and other farming operations that burned to the ground. This legislation will compel the Department of Agriculture to create disaster liaisons and dispatch them to disaster zones. In California, we have suffered greatly from several wildfires that have caused great damage throughout the state. In San Bernardino County, over 40,000 people were evacuated from their homes, and nearly 1,200 buildings burned to the ground. Far too many people lost their homes, farms, and in some cases--their lives--to these wild fires. This bill and my amendment are only a small step in the right direction. We must funnel Federal attention and resources to rebuild after these deadly wildfires and help prevent similar events in the future.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to recommit the Defense Reauthorization Conference Report. We must say no to the veteran disability tax and support concurrent receipt. As a veteran, and as a Member of Congress, it is my duty to fight for the veterans who fought for our freedom. We must make sure that our veterans receive the benefits and healthcare that they have more than earned. To take money away from our veterans while giving tax cuts to the wealthy is disgraceful. I don't understand how House Republicans can vote to cut $14 billion from veterans' benefits, and then send 130,000 troops to Iraq. While America's wealthiest receive huge tax cuts our soldiers die overseas. And for those that do come home, they want to cut their benefits. Our soldiers deserve better. Right now, 520,000 veterans' benefits claims are still pending in the VA. Some of these claims involve soldiers that served as long ago as the Korean War. I have even introduced a bill to try to solve this problem, H.R. 1264 that will help reduce this backlog of claims. This is the type of help our veterans need. It is shameful that our disabled veterans cannot receive disability pay without receiving a cut in their pension. Veterans should not be forced to give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar that they receive in disability pay. A veteran must not be punished for being disabled. I cosponsored H.R. 303, the concurrent receipt bill. And I signed the petition that would have brought this bill to the House floor despite Republican opposition. Our veterans are simply waiting for what they are owed--their disability pay and their full pensions. Our veterans are dying at a rate of 1,000 a day. The Republican plan will not aid the veterans that need help now. Under the Republican plan only one-third of the disabled veterans will get the help that they need. This is unacceptable and our veterans deserve better. Our veterans need our help. Let's not keep them waiting any longer. I urge my colleagues to support concurrent receipt and send this report back to conference.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Coach Rod Smedley, former Head Football Coach of San Bernardino Valley College. Coach Smedley is an individual of great distinction, and we join with family and friends in honoring his remarkable achievements and years of dedicated service to the Inland Empire. Coach Smedley is an exceptional individual who has not only devoted his life to helping the San Bernardino Valley College community but has also been an important pillar of support for the student-athletes of the college. His kindness and passionate spirit render him a vital resource and a beloved member of the college community. For the past 26 years, Coach Smedley has dedicated himself to serving the college and achieving a remarkable level of achievement. As Head Football Coach, he guided the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines to five Bowl Championships, including three consecutive wins between 1995 and 1997, seven Football Foothill Conference Championships, and the highest winning percentage of a Junior College football coach in the Inland Empire. Coach Smedley has also led the Men's and Women's tennis teams to a combined total of seven conference titles. He has been an integral contributor to the management and administration of San Bernardino sports, as well as an active participant and positive influence on the lives of many college students. In addition to these contributions, Coach Smedley was twice awarded the honor of California Community College Football Coach of the Year and awarded the Foothill Conference Football Coach of the Year four times. Most importantly, under his guidance, Coach Smedley has seen more student-athletes receive scholarships to four-year schools than any other Junior College coach in the Inland Empire. He has received the highest possible evaluation of his profession for integrity and performance, and has taken a proactive approach to leadership in the college community. Through his participation in countless activities, Coach Smedley has exhibited kindness, humility, and a deep resolve to ameliorate all aspects of San Bernardino Valley College, so it is only appropriate that we honor him today with his family and the residents of the Inland Empire. And so, Mr. Speaker, we salute Coach Rod Smedley. We express sincere admiration that he is being honored for his incomparable accomplishments and hope that others may recognize his good works in the community.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and majority leaders on both sides. I stand in support of this resolution, H. Res. 425. I went out there with the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), and we saw many of the firefighters who were willing to stand up and fight for us. We saw the devastation in our immediate area, but one really cannot explain what happens when a person is willing to go on the battle line. Many of these men and women were willing to fight for us, when all of us are willing to witness what happens right now, and we saw the fires that are going on, but these men and women continued to go back into the battle because they knew what it meant to save that particular home or save that forest or save our immediate areas in terms of our communities. I know that my son, Joe Baca, Jr., and I and the highway patrol went directly into the fires and saw some of these homes that were burning, and we saw the firefighters that were willing to fight the fight. They did not ask any questions, but these men and women continued to be brave and continued to work on behalf of us. I stand in support of this resolution. I commend both sides for coming up and honoring these men and women who are heroes and continue to fight in our behalf, and we need to continue to support individuals that are willing to stand on the line for us.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank all the firefighters and public servants who worked so hard this past week to help combat the devastating wildfires that occurred all over southern California and the Inland Empire. On behalf of myself and the people of the 43rd California Congressional District, I say ``thank you.'' In southern California and the Inland Empire, we have witnessed devastation like we have never seen before. Homes were destroyed, properties were damaged, lives were lost. More than 740,000 acres were burned. Nearly 3,600 homes were lost and 20 people lost their lives. At one point, nearly 16,000 firefighters were battling the blazes at the peak of devastation. When the highway patrol and I toured the fires in my district 1\1/2\ weeks ago, we went into the ruins where residents had been evacuated. We saw the devastation of the homes and felt an overwhelming heat and breathed in the thick smoke of the fire. It was hard for us to be there simply for a few hours, but our firefighters did this for weeks, round the clock, with very little rest. They battled the blazes, inhaled the fumes, while the entire time reaching out to the communities. When I was there with the firefighters, we would come out of the fires and people would instantly stop us. They would beg us to check if their homes were still standing. And do my colleagues know what the highway patrol and I did? We charged back to where the flames were to see if the homes were still there. Often, as many know, we simply found an address on a curb and no home. But who was still there, fighting the fires and trying to save the homes? The firefighters. We owe a great deal of gratitude to the brave men and women who fought these devastating fires, our American heroes. That is why I believe that we should make sure that they have access to health care that they need so they can go home to their families safe and healthy. We do not know what the long-term effects of exposure to the smoke and fumes will be to the firefighters who fought the blazes in California. But with early evaluation, monitoring, and analyzing, we can offer them better treatment, the treatment they deserve for putting their lives on the line. That is why I have introduced a bill that will require the Department of Health and Human Services to work with local health experts to conduct long-term health monitoring on firefighters who have responded to the California wildfires. This bill will create a health-monitoring program for the firefighters who respond to catastrophic Federal emergencies like we recently experienced in California. I want the firefighters to have constant monitoring about their health. I want them to be able to have access to health care that they deserve. That is what my bill will do. At least 15 studies have shown statistical links between brain cancer and firefighting. According to the Center to Protect Workers' Rights, firefighters often jeopardize their health when they respond to disaster. Often these disasters are so severe that their equipment cannot even protect them. The health consequences for these firefighters can be as great as cancer or heart disease. In nearly all of these instances where firefighters have responded to Federal disaster, they have often been provided with very little or no health monitoring. This is wrong, and we must change it to make sure that there is monitoring. Firefighters risk their lives protecting our property, our families, our way of life. They deserve better. We must have more resources devoted to monitoring firefighters after they respond to Federal emergencies when there is prolonged exposure to dangerous smoke, fumes, and chemicals. A program like this was developed after the collapse of the World Trade Center. It has been very successful in identifying the health problems of those first responders. Many of these firefighters at the World Trade Center suffered serious coughing illness after dealing with the wreckage of the towers. Thanks to monitoring programs, we can evaluate the health of these fire responders and get them the care that they need. I want early detection for the men and women who responded to fires in California. I want them to be able to go back to their families safe and healthy. We must make sure that our firefighters are safe and healthy after they respond to a Federal disaster. We must make sure that we decrease such possible risk. We owe a great gratitude to these brave men and women who fought the recent fires in California and the Inland Empire. Providing them adequate health care is the least we can do to say thanks to these American heroes.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this conference report on H.R. 2115, which will give the President the freedom to privatize our air traffic controllers. How does this make Americans safer? We must ask ourselves, how does this make Americans safer? In a post-9/11 world, we must make safety a priority. So I ask again, why are we doing this? Is it cheaper? The answer is no. Privatizing increases our costs. Is this a good policy? The answer is no. Privatizing has failed miserably in other countries. Approximately 20,000 hard-working men and women of the FAA ensure the safety of more than one million passengers each day, and we should trust them to continue to do the job. This is why I say, nothing has been broken, so why do we need to fix it? The safety and security of the American people should not be the responsibility of the low bidders. It is the core responsibility of our American Government to make sure the safety is there. We must make sure that democracy is there. We have not allowed democracy by allowing this bill to come before us, and we should make sure that we vote no on this.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Red Ribbon Week, the annual campaign to prevent illegal drug use and promote drug- free communities. All of our children have so much potential. All of our children deserve a chance at life. But it is so sad when families, friends and communities and faith fail a child and they become addicted to drugs. Caring for our children and making sure they do not get addicted to drugs is all of our responsibility. Mr. Speaker, 81 percent of teenagers ages 14 to 20 have used drugs. One out of every four high school seniors has used illegal drugs in the past 30 days; almost 30 percent of young adults have used marijuana in the past. This must change. Our children deserve better. Red Ribbon Week uses community action to educate and help prevent drug abuse. Throughout the United States, many of our schools are participating in this program, informing our children to stay away from drugs. I ask support for Red Ribbon Week in the State of California, and I ask support for Red Ribbon Week throughout our Nation.