Luis Fortuño

Mr. FORTUNO

Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Chairman, back in 1998, Congress enacted the Workforce Investment Act, which established a system for a one-stop career centers aimed at providing one convenient central location to offer job training and other employment-related services. While these reforms have largely been a success, the system is still hampered by inefficiency, duplication, and unnecessary bureaucracy. The bill that we are approving today aims to strengthen training services for job seekers accomplishes these goals in several ways: Particularly by streamlining bureaucracy and eliminating duplication; consolidating the three adult WIA training programs, giving States and local communities greater flexibility, and enabling more job seekers to be served with no reduction in services; removing arbitrary barriers that prevent individuals from accessing job training services immediately; strengthening partnerships between local businesses, communities colleges and the local one-stop delivery system; enhancing vocational rehabilitation to help individuals with disabilities; and improving allocation and literacy for adults to ensure they gain the knowledge and skills necessary to find employment, including language proficiency. I want to thank the chairman on the committee for adopting two amendments I have introduced to enhance further employability of the limited English proficient calculation by providing necessary skills, training and English language instruction. I believe this will help tremendously, especially the Hispanic populations throughout the country. I believe that the backbone of a strong economy and a strong society is a well-trained and highly-skilled workforce. The bill on the floor today is an excellent source to achieve that goal. This bill includes a number of reforms aimed at strengthening our Nation's job training system and better engaging the business community to improve job training services. It accomplishes this by requiring State and local workforce investment boards to ensure the job training programs reflect the employment needs in local areas; also allowing training for currently employed workers so employers can upgrade workers' skills and avoid layoffs; encouraging the highest caliber providers, including community colleges, to offer training through the one-stop system; leveraging other public and private resources to increase training opportunities; and increasing connections to economic development programs. The bill reauthorizes the Rehabilitation Act of 1993, the primary Federal program designed to assist individuals with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and retain employment to live independently; and furthermore, it includes transition services for students with disabilities moving from secondary education into post-secondary activities that can only be determined as a possible alternative to address the needs of those in special needs. I am convinced that H.R. 27 is a valuable tool to achieve that goal we all have set our minds to. And that is none other than creating a better and strong economy and society that will be prepared to compete in a changing and demanding new world that rises as we speak.

Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Chairman, the discussion today is really about protecting the mission of those religious organizations that some of the Members here are proposing that we regulate even further in spite of the wonderful job they are doing to work with our social ills. It is also about preserving the strength and integrity of religious organizations that engage in this type of social work. It is not a license we are looking for to impose particular religious beliefs, but a guarantee to protect the administrative integrity that is part of each religious group that engages in this type of work. Faith-based and community-based organizations are far better suited than a government bureaucracy to address these issues and produce results. Key to their success is a unifying roll they often play in their communities, as well as their proximity to individuals and communities in need. This is especially true, I must say, of the Hispanic American population. Hispanic Americans traditionally, in following their traditional values and beliefs, often turn to faith-based and community organizations for help. By channeling social services through these organizations, we can avoid losing members of this community in our society. However, what some today are trying to do here is essentially trying to tell them whom they can hire and whom they cannot hire. I know of different programs actually as we speak here in Washington, D.C. I have a group of six or seven ministers from the northwestern part of Puerto Rico that are visiting with us today, and they have been doing, for a number of years, a wonderful job in terms of working with our younger population. No one from Washington, I repeat, no one from Washington, has a right to tell them whom they can hire and whom they cannot hire. When a faith-based group hires employees on a religious basis, they are exercising their civil liberties. No one from Washington will take that away from them. If denied the right to staff their programs on a religious basis, employees of religious organizations not sharing the religious organization's faith could end up suing to tear down religious art or symbols and perhaps even its religious sounding name. What is really happening here is there are some people who do not believe that these organizations should be performing the job they are performing. I ask everyone here to oppose the amendment that has been introduced.

Mr. FORTUNO

Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my special order at this time.

Mr. FORTUNO

Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the Spanish American War in 1898, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States and became a territory under the Territorial Clause of the U.S. Constitution. It was not until 1917, by virtue of the passage of the Jones Act, that people born in Puerto Rico were granted the privilege of becoming citizens of this great Nation. On March 2, 1917, exactly 88 years ago, Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens. We value our citizenship dearly, and over the years, Puerto Ricans have honored their citizenship by making major contributions to our great Nation. We have distinguished ourselves in the arts, the sciences and sports. But most important of all, courageous Puerto Rican men and women have served their Nation proudly defending our valued principles of freedom around the world. Puerto Ricans have served with honor and distinction in the Armed Forces of the United States in all wars and conflicts since 1917 to this day, where 3,400 of our men and women are active in our Nation's war on terrorism, including 825 soldiers currently serving in Iraq. Four Puerto Ricans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award given for valor on the battlefield. Today I want to again honor these four Puerto Rican heroes: Private First Class Fernando Garcia, who fought in the Korean War; Private First Class Carlos Lozada, who fought in the Vietnam War; Captain Euripides Rubio, who fought in the Vietnam War; and Specialist Hector Santiago-Colon, who also fought in the Vietnam War. 18,000 Puerto Ricans served in World War I. During World War II, 65,034 Puerto Ricans, including 200 Puerto Rican women, served in the Armed Forces. More than 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in the Korean War during which the 65th Infantry Regiment, comprised mostly of Puerto Rican soldiers, distinguished themselves for bravery. Actually, I would like to quote tonight General Douglas MacArthur who said in Tokyo on February 12, 1951, and I quote, ``The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry on the battlefields of Korea are writing a brilliant record of achievement in battle, and I am proud indeed to have them in this command. I wish that we may have many more like them,'' and I close the quote. More than 48,000 Puerto Ricans served in Vietnam. Of these, over 430 were killed and over 3,000 were wounded. Close to 2,600 Puerto Rico National Guard volunteers and U.S. Army Reserve soldiers were mobilized for Desert Storm. Puerto Ricans have always responded to the call of defending our Nation and have had no qualms in shedding their blood on the battlefields to defend the cause of liberty. On February 15 of this year, I visited Private First Class Emanuel Melendez-Diaz from Comerio, Puerto Rico, who is in intensive care in Walter Reed Army Medical Center from injuries suffered in Iraq as part of our global war against terrorism. I was deeply moved by the intense pride his parents show in their son and in the sacrifice he made for our Nation. And yet, I could not help but think that Private First Class Emanuel Melendez-Diaz had not been able to vote for his Commander-in-Chief because he is Puerto Rican. That is morally wrong. Today we commemorate the 88th anniversary of Congress granting US citizenship to the people of Puerto Rico. Yet we still cannot vote for our President, cannot vote in this Chamber, cannot vote on legislation that affects us. Congress has an unfinished agenda with Puerto Rico. The 4 million U.S. citizens that live in Puerto Rico should finally be given the opportunity to make an educated, fair and democratic choice regarding their final status preference. After 106 years of territorial status, and 88 years of being U.S. citizens, we are tired of waiting. The people of Puerto Rico deserve better. We have earned our right to be heard.

Mr. FORTUNO

Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, during these cold Washington winter days, when the temperature hovers near freezing and another snow emergency is called, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind my Colleagues of my Puerto Rico. I hope that my Colleagues will think of the lush tropical island with warm sun, the inviting white beaches and the aqua blue waters. That is my Puerto Rico but my home is much, much more than that. While for many, their thoughts of Puerto Rico end at the beaches, the fact is that the Island is a diverse landscape with vibrant communities, impressive mountains and a tropical rainforest that is home to hundreds of species of plants, trees and vertebrates. It is that part of my homeland that I would like to bring to my Colleagues attention today. The Caribbean National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest System, is a historic and natural treasure to both Puerto Rico and our Nation. The Spanish Crown proclaimed much of the current CNF as a forest reserve in 1824. Recently the CNF celebrated its 100th anniversary, commemorating the date when President Theodore Roosevelt reasserted the protection of the CNF by designating the area as a forest reserve. Located 25 miles east of San Juan, the forest is a biologically rich. The CNF ranks number one among all national forests in the number of species of native trees with 240. In addition, the CNF has a wide variety of orchids and over 150 species of ferns. There are over 100 species of vertebrates in the forest. Of particular note is the endangered Puerto Rican parrot. At the time that Columbus set sails for the New World, there were approximately one million of these distinctive parrots, today there are under 100. The CNF is integral to the lives of hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans. It is a major source of water to the island. The CNF receives over 10 feet of rain each year. As a result, the major watersheds in the CNF are able to provide water to over 800,000 residents. In addition, the CNF provides a variety of recreational opportunities to the nearly 1,000,000 Puerto Ricans and tourists each year. Families, friends and school groups come to the forest to hike, bird watch, picnic, swim and enjoy the scenic vistas. A resource this special needs to be protected for current and future generations. For this reason, I am introducing today my first legislation as a Member of Congress, ``The Caribbean National Forest Act of 2005.'' My legislation builds upon earlier proposals introduced in the House and the Senate. These proposals, endorsed by the Bush Administration, The Wilderness Society and the National Hispanic Environmental Council, would protect approximately 10,000 acres of the most crucial portions of the CNF as the El Toro Wilderness. My bill would insure that this crucial watershed, this diverse and vibrant ecosystem, and a major recreational destination in Puerto Rico will remain available for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, soon after I was elected to office by the people of Puerto Rico. I visited the CNF and met with Forest Supervisor Pablo Cruz. During my visit, I recalled the many times that I have visited the CNF with my family and friends. I want this special place to be there for our future generations. My legislation, the Caribbean National Forest Act of 2005, will make that goal a reality.