Joe Baca

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to extend my personal regards and congratulations to James Ramos, Senior, on the occasion of his 60th birthday. May this special day be filled with joy and happiness and may the future bring James good health, abundant wealth and the time to enjoy both. James is the youngest of eight children, born and raised in the East Highlands community, and started to work in support of his family as a young man of fourteen in a citrus packinghouse. He went on to serve his country in the Army and returned to work for the San Bernardino Unified School District for over 26 years. He has always modeled a strong work ethic for his family, and those who love him, speak of his lifelong dedication of service to others. James should be proud of his marriage of 35 years to the beautiful Rena, and of the four wonderful children he has raised to be upstanding and contributing citizens and proud parents, in their own right. ``Jaime'', my friend, may the rain always fall gently on your house and may your face always greet the rising sun. James' family offers the following on the occasion of his birthday: Touching our lives with his gentle strength and guiding us through the years, everyone cherishes ``Jaime'' for the contributions he has made. Growing up, we remember our father for fishing with bologna, jerky and Velveta Cheese, for playing ``Billy Boy'' on his guitar while we danced and sang along, and how much dedication he has committed toward leading our family. Raised in the East Highlands Community, he was the youngest of eight. Over the years he has accomplished so much. His strong work ethic can be used as an example to us all. Starting at the mere age of 14, he worked in a packinghouse. Dad has served in the United States Army. And he has worked for 26 years for the San Bernardino School District. All of his hard work and dedication to serving others has been shown by living his dream of working with state and local dignitaries. He has been manied to Rena for 35 years. Together they have four children: Ken, Alaina, James and Tom Tom, while Barbara is loved as well. Instilling the importance of higher education he encouraged his children to pursue college. He is also a grandfather of 14 and has a great-grandchild on the way. Dad, we love you. Don't ever think for one day that the things you do go unnoticed because not only does God see them, we do too.--Love, Your Kids.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, when President John Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law on June 10, 1963, women on the average earned 61 cents for each dollar earned by a man. Today, working women earn 73 cents for every dollar earned by a man, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. President Kennedy told his fellow citizens that he was taking the first step in addressing the unconscionable practice of paying female employees less wages than male employees for the same job. While progress has been made, still more needs to be done. If Congress acts this year, more can be achieved; and I say more can be achieved and will be achieved if we come together. In my State of California, families lose a staggering $21 billion of income annually to the wage gap. If women in California received equal pay, poverty and single-mom households would go from 19.2 percent to 9.2 percent. Women in the Inland Empire, for example, lose an average of $4,000 every year because of unequal pay, and I state because of unequal pay they lose that much; that is $4,000. This is money that cannot buy groceries, housing, child care, clothing for their families, and we must realize how important and critical it is when someone has to budget their dollars based on the amount of monies that they get paid. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 781, the Paycheck Fairness Act, and the Fair Pay Act legislation currently pending in Congress that is designed to help eliminate the wage gap that still exists between men and women. Many working women lack the basic benefits they need in order to care for their families. They are our grandmothers, our mothers, our wives, our sisters, our daughters, and our colleagues. They are doctors, lawyers, teachers, caregivers, and leaders. Women lawyers earn $3,000 less than a male attorney, and a lot of people are surprised and they think that they earn an equal amount of pay and they do not. Female doctors make $5,000 less than male colleagues. Wages for female nurses, where 95 percent are women, earn $30 less each week than male nurses who make up 5 percent. Can one imagine, only 5 percent are male and the majority, which is 95 percent female, earn less money. That is not fair. Waitresses' weekly earnings are $50 less than waiters' earnings. The situation is even worse for women of color. African American women earn only 67 cents and Latinos 56 cents for every dollar that men earn. This continues to be a disparity, and a lot of times when we look at our Nation and we look at the diversity that we have, all we are asking for is for equal pay for equal work; that African American women and Latinos should earn the same amount of dollars that anybody else should earn because they are willing to work and they are not asking for any special privileges. They are saying pay me for the same work that somebody else earns. The wage gap impacts women's retirement also. Women have less to save for the future and will earn smaller pensions than men; and when we look at today's society, it is no longer a man that is providing but a woman a lot of times is providing for the family. It is important that they also have that security for retirement when they are looking towards retirement. On the job, working women are looking for higher pay, better benefits and, most of all, the three Rs, and I state the three Rs: respect, recognition, and reward for a job well done. We all need a pat on the back, and we all need to be respected when it comes to that recognition. Half of all older women receiving a pension in 1998 got less than $3,486 per year compared to $7,020 per year for older men. Before the end of the year, let us pass this legislation to finally make the work of America's women valued, fair, equitable, and just. Let us work to bring equal pay to every woman in America, to every working person. They deserve it. Their families deserve it. Let us get the job done.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, when President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law on June 10, 1963, women on average earned 61 cents for each dollar earned by a man. Today, working women only earn 73 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. President Kennedy told his fellow citizens that he was taking the first step in addressing `the unconscionable practice of paying female employees less wages than male employees for the same job.' While progress has been made, still more needs to be done and, if Congress acts this year, more can be achieved. In my state of California, families lose a staggering 21 billion dollars of income annually to the wage gap. If women in California received equal pay, poverty in single mom households would go from 19.2 percent to 9.2 percent. Women in the Inland empire for example loss on average 4 thousand dollars every year because of unequal pay. This is money that can't buy groceries, housing, child care, clothing for their families. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 781, The Paycheck Fairness Act and the Fair Pay Act, legislation currently pending in Congress that is designed to help eliminate the wage gap that still exists between men and women. Many working women lack the basic benefits they need in order to care for their families. They are our grandmothers, mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and colleagues. They are our doctors, lawyers, teachers, caregivers, and leaders. Women lawyers earn $300 less than male attorneys. Female doctors make $500 less than their male colleagues. Wages for female nurses, where 95 percent are women, are $30 less each week than male nurses who only make up 5 percent. Waitresses weekly earnings are $50 less than waiters' earnings. The situation is even worse for women of color. African American women earn only 67 cents and Latinas 58 cents for every dollar that men earn. They wage gap impacts women's retirement also. Women have less to save for their futures and will earn smaller pensions than men. We need to recognize working women and we need to pay them equally. On the job, working women are looking for higher pay, better benefits and, most of all, the three ``Rs'': Respect, Recognition and Reward for a job well done. Half of all older women receive a private pension in 1998 got less than $3,486 per year, compared with $7,020 per year for older men. Before the end of this year, let's pass this legislation to finally make the work of America's women valued, fair, equitable and just. Let's work to bring equal pay to every woman in America. They deserve it and their families deserve it. Let's get the job done.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia Mr. Moran.

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had introduced a resolution, H. Res. 105, recognizing the achievements of Cesar Chavez, the founder and president of the United Farm Workers of America. It is introduced and supported by the United Farm Workers and supported by all Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and many of my fellow Members of the House of Representatives. This resolution encourages a Federal holiday for March 31 in honor of Cesar's birthday. It encourages States to make March 31 a holiday. It encourages schools to incorporate lessons on Cesar Chavez's life and work into their curriculum and to learn about their curriculum. Cesar Chavez is a true American hero. He carried the torch for justice and freedom. He was a hope for thousands of impoverished people. He was a beacon of light for many Latinos in the community, a giant of a man. His legacy will live on in our hearts, in our hopes, in our dreams. Chavez was born near Yuba, Arizona, and grew up in a migrant labor camp. In 1938, the Chavez family had joined some 300,000 migrant workers who followed the crops in California. Migrant workers had no permanent homes. They lived in overcrowded quarters, without bathrooms, electricity, or running water. Can one imagine individuals living without bathrooms, electricity, or running water? Cesar Chavez lived there as a poor individual. Going to school was not easy for a child of a migrant worker since they are always away and on the move. Can one imagine the impact it has on many of the children who want to get a good quality of education but are moving from one camp to another? He noticed that the labor contract and landowners exploited the workers. He tried reasoning with farm owners about higher pay and better working conditions. But most of the fellow workers would not support him for fear of losing their jobs. Yes, people want to obtain jobs and sometimes are not willing to speak up; and sometimes we do need a leader. So we had a leader in Cesar Chavez. As a solitary voice, Chavez had no power, but was willing to stand up and speak out. In 1944, he joined the United States Navy and served his country, a man who had fought for the same principles that many of us had fought for or served this country. For the freedoms that we enjoy, for the justice, the equality, he went in to preserve that and served in 1944. Upon returning, he would no longer stand to see the workers being taken advantage of, watching as they worked long hours for low pay, and I state for low pay. At the age of 35, he left his well-paid job to devote his time to organizing the farm workers into a union, a union that would help improve the quality of life for many individuals. In the early 1960s, Chavez became co-founder and president of the United States Farm Workers. In 1968, Chavez gained attention as the leader of a nationwide boycott of California table grapes in a drive to achieve labor contracts. In fact, some of us still do not eat grapes even now today, even though that boycott is over. He led his organization to increase protection for workers, for health and safety, to ban child labor from the fields, to win fair-wage guarantees, and to fight against discrimination in employment and the sexual harassment of female workers. Chavez also used nonviolent tactics to bring attention to the plight of farm workers. His efforts are a shining example to young people and can provide an invaluable lesson for what he or she believes in if they work hard, perseverance, and people banning together, solidarity and in unity, that changes can come about. He organized the farm workers to stand together and in one loud voice say, ``From this day, we demand to be treated like men. We are to be respected as human beings. We are not slaves, and we are not animals, and we are not alone. We will not work for low wages. ``You live in big farm homes, but we live in boxes. You have plenty to eat while our children must work in our fields for food. You wear good clothing, but we are dressed in rags.'' When one looked at Cesar Chavez and the family and many of the camposinos, farm workers, they did not have what many had. All they wanted was decent wages and good jobs. ``Your wives are free to make good homes, while our wives work in the field along pesticides. Fighting for social justice is one of the most profound ways in which a man can recognize another man's dignity.'' Cesar Chavez's dedication to social justice meant great sacrifices. It was a great sacrifice for many all over the world, all over the United States. He often held hunger strikes to protest the farm workers' condition. These hunger strikes are believed to have helped contribute to his sudden death in 1993. I attended the funeral where over 50,000 people attended. On September 2, 1994, California enacted a Cesar Chavez Holiday Bill designating March 31 as a State holiday, a measure that I voted for while I was in the State of California in the legislature. This measure is about respecto, respect. That is why I have introduced a similar measure here in Congress, respect for a great man who has changed the world by using nonviolence. This is about justice. This is about equality. This is about human dignity and only wanting to live for a better quality of life, not only for himself, but for many others. The slogan that we often use and have heard is: Si se puede, which means, yes, you can; viva la huelga (long live the struggle); and viva la causa (long live the cause). Let me tell my colleagues that is why, when we look at this resolution, we say that it is going to happen, and si se puede (it can happen), and one day we will have when we recognize Cesar Chavez. This is the beginning of the awareness of a great man who has honored our Nation, who has served our country and sacrificed himself for the betterment of others. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of this Special Order.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 802, the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act. It is appropriate that the President award a medal to a law enforcement officer who has performed with bravery beyond the call of duty. Our public safety officers put their lives on the line each and every day, performing acts of selfless heroism. For this reason I was proud to sponsor legislation last year, which I am reintroducing this year, to provide low-cost housing to public safety workers in our communities. The families of police officers live in fear of a knock at the door, the cap carried silently in hand, as they are informed that an officer has paid a lasting price, made the ultimate sacrifice. Our men and women of law enforcement know of this very real possibility, and yet they strive to be the very best at protecting the public. As a husband, father, and grandfather, I am thankful that our law enforcement officers are there to keep our streets safe. I am grateful that if a home burns, our firefighters will selflessly speed to the scene, rescuing the injured, the trapped, the elderly, the inform. Our emergency personnel, who administered CPR, drive ambulances, and handle our medical emergencies are also to be saluted for all of their sacrifices. This bill is a fitting salute to members of law enforcement, and it deserves our strong support.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support, and encourage my colleagues to support, the authorization of a revised and updated printing of the House Document ``Black Americans in Congress, 1870- 1989''. The achievement of African-Americans here in Congress is truly remarkable and should be accurately documented for history. In total, 103 African-Americans have taken their place in United States history as Congressional leaders. Their constituents know that they have and will continue to work to ensure that all citizens are represented equally and fairly. African-American Members of Congress continually strive to make sure that no one is left behind in this great nation. The Congressional Black Caucus has an illustrious history, which includes efforts such as civil rights demonstrations and boycotts, a successful campaign for enactment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday, sanctions against apartheid in South Africa, and support for democracy in Haiti. In particular, I want to thank the members of the Black Caucus who have repeatedly visited my district, namely Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson-Lee, John Conyers, Juanita Millender-McDonald, former Rep. Alan Wheat, former Rep. Mervyn Dymally, former Rep. Ron Dellums, the late former Rep. Augustus Hawkins, and the late Julian Dixon. These members have helped encourage African-American political activism in the Inland Empire. More importantly, African-American Congressmen and women are role models for youth who can better identify with people who look and think as they do. Representative Barbara Jordan embodies this. She represented Houston, Texas and articulated with skill and knowledge the needs of not only African-Americans but also other minority communities. Among her legislative achievements was an amendment to the Voting Rights Act, which provided for the printing of bilingual ballots. Oscar DePriest was the first Black Congressman in the twentieth century. When he took his seat, he was the only Black member in the chamber. Adam Clayton Powell, a magnificent orator, was both a Congressman and a Pastor. He understood the needs of Blacks in his district because he spoke to them and more importantly, listened to them every week. He served 11 terms in Congress and was chair of the influential Education and Labor Committee. New York's Shirley Chisolm was the first female elected to Congress and fought fervently for the Title I program that benefited disadvantaged children throughout the country. This is a very abbreviated list of accomplished public servants who gave their time and talent for the benefit of all Americans. The working legacy of these remarkable 103 African-Americans must be preserved. We must recognize their service as well as the service of the current African-American Members of Congress. They continue the struggle for freedom, equality, and full-representation for all as guaranteed by our Constitution. We must honor their struggle. That is why I support, and I ask my colleagues to support, the updating of this important house document.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 67, recognizing the importance of tuberculosis funding. On March 24th, 1882, Dr. Robert Kotch discovered the bacteria that causes TB. More than a century later, TB is still a serious world threat. In fact, it kills more people today than it did a century ago. Somewhere in the world someone dies of TB every fifteen seconds. One third of the world's population is infected with the TB bacteria. This year alone, TB will take more than 2 million lives, including the lives of many minorities here in the United States. The illness is particularly affecting our African American population. This disease is a threat to all of us, including to my constituents in California, which has one of the highest rates of this illness in the country. Therefore, it is essential that we increase funding for TB control, and increase efforts to eliminate TB in the United States. We must call upon world leaders, including the President to commit to putting an end to this epidemic.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute one of the Inland Empire's own, Yolanda Townsend Wheat. A Board Member of the National Credit Union Administration, and native of the 42nd Congressional District of California, Yolanda will be visiting the area this month, making a number of presentations to schools, businesses, and academia. We feel in our hearts great pride for Yolanda's achievements, and hope she will inspire a new generation of young people in our area. Yolanda truly embodies the American dream that if you work hard, if you persevere, there is nothing you cannot achieve. I hope the children in the Inland Empire will look to her as a role model and mentor. I offer my best wishes to Yolanda, her husband, Alan Wheat, former Congressman from Missouri, and their two children. I know they are proud of all she has attained. Yolanda's achievements are remarkable for their great breadth and depth. An attorney specializing in corporate finance, President Bill Clinton named her to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board in April 1996. She served as NCUA chairwoman for a short time in early 2001. The three-person NCUA Board is responsible for overseeing more than 10,000 federally insured credit unions with assets totaling over $400 billion. The NCUA is the independent federal agency that insures the deposits of more than 76 million credit union members in the nation's federal credit unions and most state-chartered credit unions. During her tenure on the NCUA Board, Yolanda has been a champion for the interests of consumers, focusing on such issues as access to financial services, privacy and predatory lending practices. She has been instrumental in developing incentives that help credit unions expand their membership base so that as many consumers as possible have access to credit union services. She has worked to empower credit unions to provide more services in the financial marketplace in order to remain competitive and thrive in the 21st Century. Yolanda was raised in a multicultural household in California. Her mother, (the former Mary Sanchez) worked in a law firm and was the inspiration of Yolanda's desire to pursue law as a career. Her father, Art Townsend, was the founder and publisher of The Precinct Reporter, a weekly African American newspaper in my district. As an attorney, Yolanda has nearly ten years of specialized experience in real estate and corporate law. She represented commercial lending and financial institutions at several law firms. She worked in both the Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. offices of the law firm of Morrison and Foerster from 1986 to 1992. She practiced law from 1993 to 1995 with the former law firm of Smith, Gill, Fisher & Butts in Kansas City, Missouri. A native of San Bernardino, California, Yolanda holds a J.D. for Harvard Law School and graduated with distinction from Stanford University with an A.B. in International Relations. She is a member of the bars of California, Maryland and Missouri. All of this adds up to a truly remarkable record of achievement and public service. And so, as Yolanda visits the people of the Inland Empire, we wish her God's blessings, good wishes, and our proudest thoughts.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Chairman, I stand in support of this legislation, H.R. 327. If we are not choking small businesses with overburdensome regulations, we are choking them with paperwork. Today small business owners have to contend with an increased competition with big businesses who are merging and consolidating and putting a squeeze on the little guy. Then they have big government come in, squeezing the little guy with tons of regulations and paperwork. This is why this country is heading into a recession. Small business is the engine of the economic growth in this country. The biggest employer is the Inland Empire in my area with the largest growth of small businesses. What we have done is we have stalled the engine. I state we have stalled the engine. We have forced small businessmen and women to spend hours filling out forms. These are hours they cannot spend with customers, their families, vendors, civic organizations. Time is money. As a former small business owner, I know how tough it can be to keep up with small regulations and forms. I wanted to be a good businessman, not a good form-filler-outer. For those of us who are in small businesses, we understand what is going on in the world around us and the kind of competition that we are faced with as well. We want to be just as competitive as anybody else. But we also want to spend our time wisely. The way to do that is to get rid of some of the burdens that we have in the filling out of the paperwork. In addition, I am also concerned that the President's budget cuts Small Business Administration almost in half from its level of 2000 and that the President's tax plan does not allow for specific tax relief for small businesses. Small businesses deserve our support and help. They need financing programs. They deserve specific tax relief measures. They need less burdensome regulations and less paperwork. Let us unharness small business owners and get the engine going again. I ask for support for H.R. 327.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to salute Vera Figueroa, of California. Vera has been recognized by Adelante, California Migrant Leadership Council and American Legion Merle Reed Post 124 as an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the improvement of education opportunities for Latino Children in California. Delano High School Board Member, a highly respected community leader and cultural dance instructor, Vera has made major contributions to the youth and parents over the past years. Born in El Paso, Texas, on January 4, 1937, daughter of Mrs. Elvira Villegas, Vera has five brothers and two sisters. Her family moved to Delano in 1946. Married since 1955 to Johnny Figueroa, they have three children: Lorriane Melendez, 28 years of age, who resides in McFarland, Johnny Figueroa III, 24 years, of Delano, and Edmundo Figueroa, age 14, a student at Delano High School. Attending Fremont Elementary, Richgrove Elementary, and Delano High School, Vera graduated in 1955. She worked as a Community Aide at Delano High School from 1979 to 1985, and currently works at the school as a Record Clerk, since 1985. Vera has been an active community volunteer, freely giving of her time, efforts, and talent. She has served as a coach for Delano Parks and Recreation, coaching 3rd to 12th grades, all sports. In honor of her achievements and volunteerism, Vera was appointed Delano parks and Recreation Commissioner, July 1980--December 1984. Vera is also known for dance. She has served as Dance Instructor at Albany Park and Fremont School for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. She started dancing as ``Vera'' for the soldiers at Ft. Bliss and other places in Texas. While still in El Paso, she studied classical Spanish Dances. In Delano she continued to learn on her own. In the late 40s and early 50s she danced at both the Albany Park and Fremont Schools. In the '70s she started the Figueroa Troup. It was multicultural group, featuring dances of Spain, Mexico, Russia, Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines. At one time the group included her daughter, and several other Cinco de Mayo Queen Contestants. They performed for the Boy Scouts Jamboree in Hayward and for the Men's Prison in San Luis Obispo. They performed in San Jose, Santa Ana, San Fernando, and Bakersfield. Vera's love of dance and her Mexican culture inspired her to devote many hours to teaching the cultural dances of Mexico and Spain. She choreographed most Cinco de Mayo queen show pageants. She devoted thousands of hours to their celebration. Vera served as Grand Marshal of the 30th Fiesta and Parade for Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, Inc., in Delano, in honor of her accomplishments and devotion to preserving the culture. She also helped found Community of Concerned Parents for Better Education, (CCPBE), and has been President for four years. The group works for better education and greater parent participation. Under her leadership, CCPBE raised $2,000 for the Fremont School Track. They also provide $1,000 scholarship awards for Delano High graduates. Vera has always worked for better education for the community's economically and academically disadvantaged. Vera has been a member of Delano High PTA and Terrace School PTA. As president of the CCPBE, she has been instrumental in helping with back- to-school nights at the Delano schools, contributing monies to Fremont School and many other local school activities. It is a pleasure to honor Vera Figueroa, who has made and continues to make a difference for California youth and the Latino community.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to salute Joe Ortiz Cardona, of California. Joe has been recognized by Adelante, California Migrant Leadership Council and American Legion Merle Reed Post 124 as an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the improvement of education opportunities for Latino children in California. A highly-respected community leader in Earlimart for more than 33 years, a Barber by trade, Joe Cardona has spent most of his life helping others. He is active in improving the conditions of the people of Earlimart, in such areas as flood control, schools, health care, food and clothing acquisition and distribution, and support for families in need. Joe was born in 1933 in Somerton, Arizona. His family migrated to Earlimart in 1940, where Joe enrolled in first grade at Earlimart Elementary School. Following the seasonal crops, Joe's family moved to Brawley where he graduated from eighth grade in 1948. Joe enlisted in the Army in the late 1950's serving two years. In 1957, Joe studied and obtained his apprenticeship for Barbering from Moler Barber College, Fresno, California. In 1959, Joe married Cruz Amaya Cardona and raised four children, Larry, Joe Jr., Frankie and Vicky. In 1974, Joe was determined to receive a high school diploma. He enrolled in Adult Education at Delano Joint Union High School. Along with the forty-seven area citizens, he was one of the proud graduates of the commencement exercises in June 2, 1975. Joe Cardona is a man of integrity, dependability and dedication. In 1967, understanding the poverty and hardships of some of the community members of Earlimart, he had an idea to have members of the community contribute to a fund, which could be used to assist families on the occasion of bereavement. With this idea the Earlimart Funeral Fund Association was formed and to-date Joe is still an active member of this organization, and besides the monetary support, you probably will see Joe attending the funerals and expressing his sympathy to the bereaved families. Serving his country was one of Joe's proudest moments, and because of his active membership, he has received recognition for participation in the American Legion Post. Joe has proudly served in the position of president and commander of the American Legion Post. Representing the American legion Post 745, Joe helps raise funds for scholarship to annually honor a deserving Earlimart Junior High School student. Joe helped coordinate the first Food Link Program for the community of Earlimart in 1995, dedicating countless hours gathering volunteers, and through his example, others have continued to take on this responsibility. This program continues to serve the needy families of this community. During the flood of 1997, Joe helped form a Flood Control Committee, gathering local active members, as well as invoking assistance from political representatives to help disaster stricken families, and was also involved in the issue of the White River Dam. Joe recruits volunteers to assist with the annual clean-up day activities in the community. One of Joe's biggest accomplishments is the annual Christmas ``Give Away'' to the needy families of the Earlimart community. Joe has received recognition by the California State Assembly and California State Senate for outstanding leadership and community services. Joe speaks very softly, and with his congenial and humble character, never boasts of his accomplishments. If you know Joe personally, you are aware of the relentless hours he has served on various committees expressing concerns. Although the town of Earlimart is not incorporated, the majority of the community will still refer to Joe as the ``Town Mayor'' and through his dedication and commitment he has made the difference!

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to salute Leamon King, of California. Leamon has been recognized by Adelante, California Migrant Leadership Council and American Legion Merle Reed Post 124 as an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the improvement of education opportunities for Latino Children in California. A lifelong educator in the Richgrove and Delano Elementary School Districts, Olympic Gold Medalist, World Record Holder on the 100 yard dash and Delano High School graduate, Leamon has provided a positive role model for the local youth. Leamon was born on February 13, 1936 in Tulare, California. His parents were Loyd King and Beatrice Wallace King. They owned a farm in Earlimart, and Leamon lived there the first year of his life. His father, Loyd King, sold their farm in 1937, and the King family moved to Delano, California where Leamon completed his elementary and secondary education. Leamon began his education at Ellington School and later transferred to Fremont School. His mother wanted him to learn music and to play the saxophone. The only elementary school in Delano with a band at that time was Cecil Avenue Elementary School, so he transferred to this school. While attending Cecil Avenue and learning music, Leamon began to excel in track as a sprinter, and was ultimately elected student body president. Upon graduation from Cecil Avenue, Leamon transferred to Delano High School. He attended and won his first state meet at the age of fifteen during his freshman year in high school. During the next four years, Leamon King continued to excel as both a student and as a runner. This outstanding athlete provided a positive image for Delano High School and the City of Delano, as well as being a positive role model for students to emulate. Following graduation from Delano High School in June 1954, Leamon began to pursue higher education at University of California, Berkeley. He was the first child in his family to pursue a college education. The April 10, 1956 Delano Record stated, ``Delano Sprinter Ready for Olympics. Sophomore Leamon King, Delano High School graduate, a young man with wings on his feet, is California's newest hope for `World's Fastest Human' honors, and the Bear sprint sensation will have ample opportunity to earn such acclaim this spring.'' The following month Leamon King tied the world record for the 100- yard dash at the West Coast Relays in Fresno, California. Merle Reed Post 124 First Vice Commander Joe Viray and former educators Wayne and Wava Billingsley witnessed this spectacular event. They stated Leamon King's historic race was an awesome sight to see. It appeared as though Leamon King had wings on his feet as he majestically flew across the finish line and into the world record history book. The Delano Record dated May 15, 1956 stated the following: ``King's 9.3 Dash Brings Another Record to City. Delano became the home of two world champions Saturday when Leamon King, local resident and former Delano High School track star, ran the 100 yards dash in 9.3 at the Fresno Relays to tie the world record. King's victory brought another world record to Delano, making it the home of one the fastest sprinters and the residence of Lon Spurrier, holder of the world record for the 880. There is no city in the United States the size of Delano, which can boast two world champions.'' Both Leamon King and Lon Spurrier were selected to participate in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Delano became the only city of its size in the United States to have two representatives make the 1956 Olympic team. Because of the fame the City of Delano had received due to the athletic accomplishments of these two track stars, Leamon King and Lon Spurrier were the Grand Marshalls of the Eleventh Annual Harvest Holidays Parade on October 6, 1956. During the October 1956 United States Olympic camp practice meet at Ontario, California, Leamon King set his second world record when he tied the 10.1 time for the world record for 100 meters set by Ira Murchison and Willie Williams in Germany the previous summer. Following this splendid achievement, Leamon traveled to Australia to represent the City of Delano and the United States. Dr. Clifford Loader, Mayor of Delano, also traveled to Australia to give support to the two Delano Olympic participants. Delano High School Educator Gary Girard, who was serving as a staff writer for the Delano Record, stated in his article dated November 23, 1956, ``King's Efforts Pulled U.S. to Victory in 400-Meter Relay at Olympic Games. Dr. Clifford Loader, Mayor of Delano, believes that it was the running of ex-Delano High star Leamon King that pulled the United States to victory in the 400-meter relay at the Olympic Games in Australia. The U.S. had stiff competition from Russia. Loader said that after the relay, Thane Baker, another member of the U.S. relay team ran over to hug King, realizing that it was his leg on the relay team that had won the race. King received a gold medal for his effort on the winning U.S. 400-meter relay quartet.'' Following the Olympic games, the foursome set a New World record. In a meet with the British Empire, the U.S. team of King, Andy Stanfield, Thane Baker and Bobby Morrow set a new world mark of 1:23.8 for the 880 yard relay. The old mark was 1:24. According to Leamon King, when he first arrived in Melbourne, he ran on grass and set a grass record. It appeared as though every time he ran, he would break a record. Bakersfield Californian Staff Writer Kevin Eubanks stated ``King's omission from the 100 meter team certainly didn't affect his moment in the spot light. The news that the world's fastest man was not competing in the 100 meter race was received as something of a shock by the rest of the sporting world.'' For his outstanding attributes as an athlete, Leamon King served as Grand Marshall for the Delano Cinco de Mayo Parade, was inducted into the University of California, Berkley Hall of Fame, and the Bob Elias Hall of Fame in Bakersfield, California. During the past twenty-nine years, Leamon King has served as an educator in the Delano area. Mr. King taught for two years in Richgrove prior to transferring to the Delano Union School District where he has served as educator for the past twenty-seven years. Mr. King has taught the sixth grade at both Terrace Elementary and Almond Tree Middle School. During his tenure as an educator for the Delano Union School District, Mr. Leamon King has proven to be an extraordinary educator and is highly respected. This educator has served as an excellent example for his peers, as well as our youth. On his sixty-fifth birthday this year, during Black History Month, the Delano Union School District named in Leamon's honor the athletic facilities at Almond Tree Middle School, which include the school gym and outside athletic facilities, including a track and basketball courts. It is a pleasure to honor Leamon King, who has made and continues to make a difference for California youth and the Latino community.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise against the rule. It is a shameful act that is being committed against the American worker this week. The Republicans have decided to strip away worker safety rules, protections we have fought hard for for working families across America. These protections have been under development for over a decade. In fact, they were initiated by former President Bush. They save money in the long term by reducing workplace injuries and keeping workers' compensation costs down. Many businesses have already adopted programs to reduce injuries. But opponents have repeatedly tried to block these protections. As a result, over 6 million workers have suffered injuries that could have been prevented. This affects everybody, nurses, construction workers, white collar workers. This is an attack on the American worker. We should oppose this cowardly effort.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, my father had 15 children. He knew what money was in his paycheck to be budgeted for all of us to have shoes and shelter, to make sure that we had enough food to eat. He had to do it wisely and budget it. Otherwise we would have gone bankrupt. We would not have had enough money for shoes, food or shelter. What the Republicans are trying to do is to make a commitment for 10 years without a budget. If a family tries to do that or a business, it would be bankrupt in a few years. That is just what this tax bill that the Republicans rushed through will do. We owe it to the American people to give them a tax cut. No one disagrees. However, we owe it to them to do it right. We have to do it responsibly. We have to do it wisely. We have to have a budget first. This tax plan is based on phony-baloney numbers. There is no substance without a budget. There is no beef, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to salute John Ruiz, who with his victory this past weekend, becomes the first Hispanic heavyweight boxing champion. The victory will be an inspiration to all Hispanic youth, and indeed to all Americans, that if you work hard, if you have tenacity, and persistence, and vision, there is nothing you cannot achieve. That is the American dream. The hope that some day, greatness will rise up in all of us. In the past several decades, several notable Hispanics have fought for the world heavyweight title, and despite their valor, have not achieved it; when one reviews the list, one sees how great this achievement is: 1923--Luis ``The Wild Bull of the Pampas'' Firpo vs. Jack Dempsey 1968--Manuel Ramos vs. Joe Frazier 1968--Oscar Bonevena vs. Joe Frazier 1973--Joe ``King'' Roman vs. George Foreman 1977--Alfredo Evangelista vs. Muhammad Ali 1978--Alfredo Evangelista vs. Larry Holmes 1979--Ossie Ocasio vs. Larry Holmes 1983--Lucien Rodriquez vs. Larry Holmes John's win has special personal significance for me. As a former ball-player, both in school and semi-professionally, I recognize the special labors of our athletes, and the inspiration that athletics can play in our lives, particularly to minority youngsters. Athletics can be a motivating factor, something that gives us a sense of identity, something to work for. Athletics ultimately caused me to finish school, serve my country in the military, go to college, and become a community college trustee, Assembly Member, State Senator, and Member of Congress. It was not always easy, but I had role models, and I am pleased that John is a role model for today's youth. I would hope that Hispanic youth, indeed, all the youth of America, look at the achievement of John Ruiz and see they can reach equally great heights, whether it is in athletics, academics, or the world of business, science, public service, or the arts. America's youth need to know that we believe in them, and they should believe in themselves. Because God gives us all talents. In the short run, there is nothing so sweet as a victory, and nothing so stinging as a defeat. But what is ultimately important is good sportsmanship, good conduct, playing a worthy game, facing a worthy adversary. Living to fight another day. In that sense, both John Ruiz and Evander Holyfield are to be saluted and honored, for they fought with their hearts, they fought with their souls, they gave American an exhilarating match, one that demonstrated athletic artistry and great courage under fire. And they should raise their hands, together, in a clasp of goodwill, knowing they have fought the good fight, the noble fight. Their bruises will heal, but they will always share a brotherhood of having met in the ring, where champions are made, and courage tested. I am sure that John's community, where he got his start boxing, is very proud of his achievement. John's hometown, Chelsea, has one of the largest Hispanic populations in Greater Boston. It has been a Mecca for some of the all-time boxing greats. I would also like to salute John's family, his wife Sahara and their children John and Jocelyn on this achievement. And so I say, congratulations, God Bless.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), for putting education as the top priority. Mr. Speaker, I think it is the number one area that we should probably invest in. When we talking about investment, when we talk about resources, we talk about our future, and our children are our future. But we have got to invest in education, and we are not investing enough dollars. When we look at President Bush making his statement that no child should be left behind, well, if no child should be left behind, then that means we ought to invest in education. We look at the amount of children in publics schools, over 53 million in our public schools alone. We look at California, over 6 million children in our public schools. If we do not invest in education, what is going to happen to our children? That means investment not only from preschools but investment in our K through 12. If we take the preventive measures, we save in the long run. Just as it was recently discussed about the prisons, we are investing more money in building prisons and incarcerating individuals. Had we invested early in education, we would have saved the taxpayers money. We would have had productive citizens that would have gone out into our communities, worked, become taxpayers, but that meant that we invested. That means that no child was left behind. That means that in the classroom, where right now we have approximately 30 to 45 students per teacher, this is uncalled for. The ratio should be less. As we begin to recruit, a need for more teachers, a demand for 2.3 million teachers nationwide. In California alone, we need over 25,000 teachers that we need to recruit. What does that mean? Teacher training, teacher recruitment, teacher development. What does that mean? Our institutions have to work. With that, as we begin to recruit teachers, we need to have the infrastructures. We need to have schools that are built to accommodate. If, in fact, we want every child to learn, we must put them in an environment where they can learn. The teacher must feel that environment, and it is very difficult when a teacher goes into the classroom and they have 30 to 35 students in a classroom, and you look at the construction buildings, you look at inadequate chalkboards, inadequate computers, inadequate faucets, leaky roofs, when you look at what is going on, we want to make sure that the atmospheres are good, that the teacher feels good, that the students feels good, and we create the kind of construction that is necessary for our children to look good, that they can look at any neighboring school and say we have schools that are built like any others. We have the technology that every other schools have. We want parity with anyone else, because we feel that we can learn. We want to have the same dreams that every other child has, but the dream will only come to reality if, in fact, we provide the tools and the instruments. My son is a teacher in junior high. He currently is going out and buying supplies at Colton Junior High School, Joe Baca, Jr., but yet he is also a baseball coach, and he is going out and buying all kinds of equipment, everything else, because we are not providing a lot of the resources. They should not have to reach into their pockets. We should make sure that when we have a bond bill and it becomes very difficult in some of our communities to pass, that we do not have the kind of schools that need to be built. We want to make sure that every school has adequate funding, that we provide the funding not only for construction, the funding for teacher training, the funding for recruitment, the funding for accountability. Accountability, when people talk about it, accountability is already at the local level. You have school board members that are elected. They have the responsibility at the local level to hold the accountability in how those dollars are spent. But we want to make sure that every child has access to education, that every child has an opportunity to be what they want to be. The only way it is going to be done is if we invest more money in education, provide more money in construction, provide more money for teacher training, provide more money for teacher development, provide opportunity for our children, invest at the beginning, not in our prisons, but invest in education from the beginning. Then we are going to have a society where individuals are going to go out to be governors, Presidents, Congressmen, assemblymen, businesspersons; they will have an opportunity to fulfill those dreams.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to salute John Ruiz, who with his victory this past weekend became the first Hispanic heavyweight boxing champion of the world. The victory will be an inspiration to all Hispanic youth, indeed to all Americans, that if you work hard, that if you have tenacity and if you have persistence and the vision, there is nothing that you cannot achieve. That is the American dream, the hope that some day greatness will rise up in all of us. In the past several decades, several notable Hispanics have fought for the world heavyweight champion title and despite their valor have not achieved it. John's win has a special personal significance. The fight this weekend meant a lot to me and many individuals across America. As a former baseball player both in high school and semi-pro and major league softball and a golfer, I recognize the special labor of our athletes and the inspiration that athletics can play in our lives and particularly to minority youth. Athletics can be a motivational factor, something that gives us a sense of identity, something to work for. Athletics ultimately caused me to finish school, serve my country in the military, go to college, become a community college trustee member, an assembly member, a State Senator and a Member of Congress. It is not always easy, but I had role models. And I am pleased that John is a role model for today's youth. I would hope that Hispanic youth, indeed all of the youth of America, look at the achievement of John Ruiz and see that they can reach ultimately great heights. Whether it is in athletics, academics or in the world of business, science, public service or arts, America's youth need to know that we believe in them and that they should believe in themselves because God gave us all that talent. In the short run, there is nothing so sweet as a victory and nothing so stinging as defeat, but what is ultimately important is good sportsmanship, good conduct, playing a worthy game and facing a worthy adversary and living to fight another day. In that sense, both John Ruiz and Holyfield are to be saluted and honored, for they fought with their heart, they fought for their souls and they gave America a very exciting match, one that demonstrated athletic artistry and great courage under fire. They should raise their hands together in a clasp of goodwill, knowing that they have fought the good fight, the noble fight. Their bruises will heal but they will always share a brotherhood of having met in the ring where champions are made and courage is tested. I am sure that John's community where he got his start in boxing is very proud of his achievement. John's hometown is Chelsea, one of the largest Hispanic populations in greater Boston. It is a mecca for most of all-time boxing greats. I also would like to salute John's family, his wife Sahara and their children, John and Jocelyn, and this achievements. I say, congratulations. God bless you.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, this June, Rabbi Hillel Cohn will be retiring from Congregation Emanu El, in San Bernardino, after 38 years of service, having served the Congregation since 1963. Rabbi Cohn is one of the leading citizens of the San Bernardino area. He is known throughout the nation for his outstanding sermons and his work as a fine educator, counselor and community leader. He is known for inspiring and creative sermons, including ones that reference Bob Dylan and the Genetic Code. I have been privileged to know Rabbi Cohn, and have found him to be a mentor, a scholar, and an inspirational man. I have been pleased to know his family, including his nephew, Mike Steinman, who served the people of the State of California as a Legislative Aide on my staff in Sacramento. I have had the pleasure of working with Rabbi Cohn on religious issues, and keeping him advised on the progress of legislation, including the Religious Freedom Protection Act, which I authored in California. Rabbi Cohn is part of a remarkable history of wise and gifted rabbis who have presided over Congregation Emanu El. The Congregation and the San Bernardino Jewish Community trace their history back to the early 1850's, when the first Jewish Settlers came to Southern California. The first Jewish community established in Southern California was in San Bernardino, and services began to be held in the 1850's, with the congregation formally being chartered in 1891. Under Rabbi Cohn, the congregation has risen to great levels of prominence, winning national awards for the excellence of its Jewish Education program. The Congregation also operates a nationally- recognized pre-school and elementary school. I am very pleased to have worked with Rabbi Cohn over the years, and wish him many years of blessed retirement. I am sure he will continue to grace the San Bernardino community with his scholarship and learning for many years to come. I offer my best wishes to him and his family on this occasion.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, in honor of African American History Month this February, I would like to join my colleagues in recognizing the outstanding contributions of African Americans in history like those of Dearfield, Colorado. These remarkable pioneers greatly contributed to the settling and shaping of the American West. For example, in California, we have a remarkable African-American pioneer, Alvin Coffey, who braved the journey across country not once but twice while enslaved. After his final voyage, he was able to save money to buy his freedom and settle in California. He became very successful. In the final years of his life, he gave his entire income to charity. In honor of this month-long celebration of achievement and history of African Americans, we must remember the continuing struggle that many people in this country face in the search for freedom, equality and full representation as guaranteed by our Constitution. On February 17, Black History Month was celebrated in my district. African-American communities came together. Specifically, I would like to commend the following newspapers in my district who contribute to inspire and shape the political landscape for our areas of African-American communities: The Precinct Reporter, Brian Townsend, editor and owner and brother to my Chief of Staff, Michael Townsend; The Black Voice, Cheryl Brown, editor, whose daughter Paulette Brown-Hinds is my congressional representative and press secretary, and whose father, Hardy Brown, is an extremely hard-working community activist in the Inland Empire. African Americans contributed greatly to the remarkable history of our Nation. We must recognize their sacrifice and struggles. However, most importantly, we must continue to follow the footsteps of those heroes and fight on for freedom. We must fight on for justice. Only when everyone's voice is heard can we continue our long march towards equal opportunity for all. Let our dreams keep alive. Let hope keep alive. Let us remember the struggle that Martin Luther King has done for our country and for our Nation, and never forget we must continue to fight for justice and equality.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 27, Honoring the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Its Employees for 100 Years of Service. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is our Nation's oldest Federal laboratory, with a mission that dates back to the founding of our Republic. NIST employs about 3,300 people, with some of our Nation's finest and most dedicated Federal scientists, including Nobel Prize winners. In the past 100 years, NIST has helped to maintain United States technology at the cutting edge, while also making contributions to our economy and international competitiveness. Many advances can be traced to the assistance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including satellite systems, communication and transportation networks, image processing, DNA diagnostic ``chips'', smoke detectors, automated error correcting software for machine tools, atomic clocks, X-ray standards for mammography, scanning tunneling miscroscopy, pollution control technology, high-speed dental drills, laboratories, factories, hospitals, businesses, and the extended enterprises of the new economy. I am concerned, however, that the President's proposed budget may cut funding for some NIST programs, including the Advanced Technology Program and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. I am also troubled by potential proposed cuts in other science programs, such as an apparent decision to cut the Energy Department's budget to $19 billion, roughly $700 million below current levels. At a time when our states, including California, are facing great challenges in providing sufficient energy, and at reasonable prices, we should not be cutting funding for programs, such as those which explore renewable energy sources. America has been on a course of jobs and prosperity, developed by the hard work of the American people over the last eight years. We should not change course. We still have much work to do in our communities, to encourage research and development, foster small business development, launch new high-tech revolutions. We must create new jobs, provide educational opportunities, ensure that all who are willing to work can advance. Therefore, as the Congress today celebrates the work of NIST and its proud traditions, let us resolve not unilaterally to disarm our nation of the finest minds and resources, which have led to an economic and technological renaissance. Our nation is the admiration of the modern world. People come here to learn in our universities, work in our corporations, and find a better life. Let us resolve to continue our fight to keep America number-one in scientific innovation and job creation.

Mr. BACA

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to join my colleagues in expressing sadness over the loss of racing legend, Dale Earnhardt. My district has the honor of having the California Speedway in Fontana, CA, a $120-million state-of-the-art facility that participates in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Dale Earnhardt was a true legend in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series where he won seven titles. I join California Speedway President Bill Miller in expressing deep sadness in this tragedy and send my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. I also wish to send my regrets to the millions of racing fans in California and throughout the world. It is apparent by the makeshift memorial at the site of the crash and the outpouring of grief since the accident, that Dale Earnhardt made an impact on the sport of racing and its fans. I think we all agree that a true American hero was lost on that final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.