Luis Gutiérrez

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Chicago White Sox for their historic 2005 season which culminated in their first World Series victory in 88 years. Earlier this year, many Chicagoans realized that this team was something special. For example, their style of play was unique. The White Sox placed emphasis on aggressive base running, solid pitching, strong defense and strategic hitting. This style of play became known around the league as ``Ozzie ball,'' named after the White Sox former shortstop and now manager, Ozzie Guillen. The White Sox front office caught on to this trend and began marketing the Sox with their ``Grinder Ball Rules'' ad campaign. One of these ``rules,'' Grinder Ball Rule #7, was demonstrated in a print ad featuring White Sox closer and Japan native, Shingo Takatsu with the line: ``To win, you need defense, speed and discipline . . . And immigration.'' That ad captured two of the important components of this historic team: the hard nosed ball playing of the Sox and the diversity of players that came together to win the championship as a team. The White Sox dugout at times sounded as if it were a mini-United Nations. Jose Contreras and Orlando Hernandez from Cuba. Damaso Marte, Luis Vizcaino, Pablo Ozuna, Juan Uribe and Timo Perez from the Dominican Republic. Freddy Garcia and manager Ozzie Guillen from Venezuela. Tadahito Iguchi from Japan. And last, but not least, the Korean baseball hero, always smiling bullpen catcher, ``the Hulk,'' Man Soo Lee. Their story is so familiar, so hopeful, for so many immigrants in this country--men and women who, like them, come to the United States to work hard, to provide for their families and loved ones, so that they, too, can live a better and safer life and pursue the American Dream. And that is why this resolution is so important, deserving and justified. Throughout history people have associated baseball with the strengths of American culture and equated the game with the best of our country's character and resolve. And in Chicago, we have found a team that embodies the character of our great city, especially the South Side of Chicago, where part of my District lies. The team, much like the South Side, is composed of close-knit friends who do their work diligently and without much fanfare. You can see it in the fan base, especially when you watch games on television. When the White Sox swept the Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs, celebrities like Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Matt Damon, and Robert Redford were easily identified by the television cameras panning around Fenway Park. But when the next round came back to Chicago, the cameras weren't as active looking for Bernie Mack, James Denton (the plumber from ``Desperate Housewives'') and Dennis DeYoung of Styx. And I think that's just fine with the South Side and our city at large. The White Sox didn't win the World Series by relying on the star power of a few individuals. Instead they had to work together and grind out every game with blood, sweat and, after the champagne popped in the clubhouse, after the last game of the year, tears of White Sox heroes who all share the spotlight equally with some of the best fans in baseball. Congratulations.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes No. 557 and No. 558.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like the record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 555 and 556.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Chairman, I am very proud of the committee print of H.R. 1461, legislation designed to improve the regulatory structure of the Government Sponsored Enterprises, GSEs. I am pleased that two amendments I offered at markup are part of the bill. One of my amendments preserves the minority component of the single family housing goals relating to underserved areas, with a major improvement in its implementation. My other amendment provides protection from liability for a GSE that makes reports to its regulator concerning transactions involving fraudulent loans or financial instruments. This provision was modeled after the protection from potential liability for such reports that banking institutions currently have under the Bank Secrecy Act. H.R. 1461 also contains a much-needed expansion of Fannie and Freddie's affordable housing goals. The legislation directs each company to establish and manage an affordable housing fund to promote affordable housing and assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. The GSEs would devote 3.5 percent of after tax profits to the fund beginning in 2006, which increases to 5 percent annually beginning in 2007. In 1989, in the FIRREA legislation, we created a similar Affordable Housing Program in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The AHP requires the FHLBs to devote 10 percent of each year's net profits as grants for affordable housing projects sponsored by their member financial institutions. The AHP's success can be measured by the fact that today it constitutes the largest private source of funding for affordable housing and community development projects. In my hometown of Chicago, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago's AHP plays a key role in local efforts to address the housing needs of low- and moderate-income families by providing financial assistance for rental and owner-occupied housing, assisted living facilities, senior housing developments, homeless shelters and group homes. In 2004 alone, the Chicago FHLB awarded $32.1 million of subsidies to 109 projects in Illinois and Wisconsin, and another 15 projects in other States. As a result, 5,680 housing units were created or rehabilitated, of which 58 percent were for very low-income households. Another $10.4 million was funded in downpayment assistance to help 2,278 families buy their first home in Illinois or Wisconsin. While these figures are impressive, numbers do not quite tell the whole story. Let me describe one AHP project in the Humboldt Park/West Town area of Chicago to provide a better sense of the impact these programs can have in their local communities. Joly Hernandez and Jose Rodriguez, with their children Imani and Albert, lived in Chicago's Humboldt Park/West Town community. Like many, they wanted a larger apartment, but could not afford the higher rent due the dramatic rise in the cost of housing in the area. In the 1990s, with increased recognition of Humboldt Park as an attractive, artist-friendly neighborhood and historic district, property values soared, and affordable rental housing was lost to speculators and developers of expensive luxury condos and single-family homes. In 1994, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, BRC, a nonprofit, community-based affordable housing developer and property manager began the arduous task of planning the Harold Washington Unity Cooperative to address the loss of affordable housing in the Humboldt Park/West Town area. Despite the increase of new construction and housing renovation in the area, a few pockets remained undeveloped. BRC knew that if the vacant land and neglected buildings were not immediately claimed for affordable housing, more long-time residents would be displaced. A project was planned to develop 87 housing units in 18 buildings over 10 sites in a formerly blighted four-block area bordered by Kedzie Avenue, Albany Avenue, Chicago Avenue and Ohio Street. All 87 units in the Cooperative will remain affordable to households earning 50 percent or less of the area median income for at least 15 years. The total cost of the project was almost $14 million. The Chicago FHLB, working through Bank One, which sponsored the project's application, provided an AHP grant of $500,000. In addition, the project received financing from CDBG funds through the City of Chicago, Trust Funds from the Illinois Housing and Development Agency, Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Illinois State Tax Credits, an Empowerment Zone grant, a Tax Increment Financing, TIF, loan and first mortgage financing. Ten years after its original conception, the Harold Washington Unity Cooperative stands as an enviable display of community pride, determination and opportunity. Because of the hard work and dedication of BRC, Joly, Jose and their two children now live in a new home in their old neighborhood. They also belong to the Bickerdike Residents Council and feel a strong sense of community and camaraderie with their neighbors. Extending this program to Fannie and Freddie is long overdue, has overwhelming bipartisan support, and I look forward to similar success stories once this legislation is implemented. Those of us on the Committee have worked very hard to ensure that the fund can only be used for affordable housing purposes. It cannot be used for political advocacy or lobbying either by the receiving entity or a third party affiliated with them. It cannot be used for counseling services or tax preparation or travel expenses, administrative costs or anything that is outside of the GSE charter. It can only be used for affordable housing purposes. But apparently that was not enough for a small minority of radical conservative members, who insisted on inserting a provision restricting non-partisan civic activities by non- profits. This language would prohibit non-profit organizations (as well as any affiliate of the non-profit) from using their own funds to engage in non-partisan voter registration or get-out-the-vote activities. Profit earning entities are not similarly restricted. Low-income housing groups and faith-based groups would be forced to choose between obtaining funding for low-income housing and using other funds to engage in non-partisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities. This provision is likely unconstitutional. The manager's amendment also contains language that would require that a faith-based or social welfare non-profit entity applying for a grant must have as its sole ``primary purpose'' the provision of affordable housing. This restriction is particularly problematic for social welfare and faith-based groups, which have a broader mission than exclusively affordable housing. These provisions are not only offensive substantively, but I have a real procedural problem with the way these provisions are being inserted in the bill. They are a part of the manager's amendment, which also contains important provisions that were worked out on a bipartisan basis, and provisions designed to help hurricane victims. The Rules Committee has unconscionably denied us an opportunity to vote to strike these offensive provisions on a stand alone basis. They did this because they knew we would win such a vote and they needed to bow to a tiny minority of conservatives who apparently have little regard for the Constitution. Regretfully, I must oppose H.R. 1461 due to the inclusion of these provisions and the fact that we were not even allowed an opportunity to vote to strike it. I sincerely hope that these provisions are stripped in conference and, if that is the case, I look forward to enthusiastically supporting the conference report so that this otherwise excellent legislation can become law.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 536, 537, and 538.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 521 and 522.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber for one rollcall vote today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 520.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise toy to discuss the devastating effect HIV/AIDS has had on the Latino community and communities of color across this country. Today, I am also pleased to be an original cosponsor of Congresswoman Hilda Solis' Concurrent Resolution to support the observance of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. This bill was introduced at a pivotal time: the bedrock of our Nation's response to HIV/AIDS, the Ryan White CARE Act, expired last week on September 30, 2005. Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS has a disproportionate stronghold in the Latino community. The numbers are disturbing. The CDC has reported that 43,171 people were diagnosed with AIDS in 2003. Twenty percent of those reported were Latino, yet Latinos represent only 14 percent of the population. In the past 3 years, the number of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses among Latinos increased more than 14 percent. This disparity is on track to continue to grow even greater because the latest statistics show that AIDS diagnoses among whites has decreased three percent from 2000 to 2003. These trends are especially evident in our urban areas. According to the City of Chicago Department of Health, the 2003 AIDS rate was 32.9 per 100,000 people in Chicago. In the United States as a whole, the AIDS rate is half that. Chicago's high rate reflects the prevalence of AIDS in communities of color. In 2003, the AIDS rate for African-Americans in Chicago was three times the AIDS rate of Whites. Latinos also have a higher AIDS rate than whites in Chicago. This epidemic has left many of our metropolitan areas struggling to care for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Many of the minorities suffering disproportionately from HIV/AIDS do not have the access to the healthcare and other services they need. When Congress passed the Ryan White CARE act in 1990, we put in place programs that addressed these issues and, as a result, we have seen improvement in the way we treat and care for uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS. But more needs to be done. AIDS has placed our country in a state of emergency. Indeed, this notion is expressed in the title of the legislation, the ``Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency, CARE Act.'' This emergency requires the attention of the Congress, and I am pleased to join Congresswoman Solis today in calling for the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act and cosponsoring her bill to support the observance of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. Mr. Speaker, we need to recognize the disproportionate affect AIDS has on our communities of color, and I join my fellow Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus tonight to call on Congress to work swiftly to reauthorize and strengthen the Ryan White CARE Act and to make sure these programs are fully funded.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, due to a family illness, I was absent from this Chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes Nos. 502 and 506. I would have also voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 503, 505, 507 and 508.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, due to a family illness, I was absent from this Chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 499. I would have also voted ``yea'' on rollcall 497, 498, 500, and 501.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 494, 495 and 496.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce legislation today that continues the long fight to maintain state consumer protections for customers of national banks. In January 2004, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the primary regulator of national banks, introduced regulations to preempt the application of state laws and the authority of state officials over their regulated entities. Since that time, other banking regulators have joined this race to the bottom. My legislation will provide much-needed clarification in this area. Last year, USA Today, the nation's newspaper, condemned the OCC's preemption rules in an editorial, claiming that they threaten ``strong consumer protection laws that have been the responsibility of states for more than a century.'' The newspaper said the OCC rules will make ``millions of consumers vulnerable'' to illegal loan practices. The OCC's Chief Counsel irreverently characterized these concerns as ``baloney.'' Over the last year, we have worked together as a broad bipartisan coalition who sees state consumer protection as a bread and butter issue, rather than ``baloney.'' This legislation is merely the latest step to ensure that our states have the power to protect consumers. And to stop the OCC from eroding strong safeguards that have been used by the states for more than a century to enforce consumer protection laws. The preemption rules were a misguided, unprecedented, unchecked expansion of its authority, especially since the states, rather than the OCC, currently have the tools and resources to effectively enforce consumer protection and other important laws. This agency has repeatedly demonstrated that it is far more concerned with currying favor among the banks it regulates instead of fulfilling its regulatory responsibilities under the law. Last year, I passed an amendment to the Financial Services Committees Budget Views expressing concern regarding the budgetary effects of the OCC's preemption rules. The budget views put the Financial Services Committee on record that the OCC's preemption rules represent an unprecedented expansion of authority, one that was instituted without Congressional authorization. Subsequently, I introduced legislation to reverse the preemption rules, and then, toward the end of last Congress, Mr. Frank and I introduced a version of what we are again introducing today. Our bill ensures that national banks will be bound by state consumer protection laws, including predatory mortgage lending statutes. It also prohibits banks from benefiting from part of a state law while refusing to comply with a consumer-friendly portion of the same law. For example, a bank in Ohio is currently using the state law mechanism for foreclosing properties, but failing to abide by another provision in the statute, which limits fees for consumers. This legislation also allows state attorneys general to enforce laws and bring suit against banks when appropriate. As a former City Council member, I believe that the accountability of local officials is crucial. Few consumers can sort through the alphabet soup of regulators and figure out whom to contact if they have a problem with their bank. But almost every consumer knows that their attorney general is there to protect them, so we must ensure that they retain authority over banks. I am pleased to have been joined on this legislation by Representatives Frank, Lee and McCarthy as original cosponsors and I urge all of my colleagues to support this effort.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that is vital to the interests of minority veterans in our Nation. Current law mandates the termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, ACMV, on December 31, 2009. My bill would simply repeal the provision of law that discontinues this important committee's mandate so that its critical work on behalf of minority veterans can continue. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans operates in conjunction with the VA Center for Minority Veterans. This committee consists of members appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and includes minority veterans, representatives of minority veterans groups and individuals who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of minority veterans. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans helps the VA Center for Minority Veterans by advising the Secretary on the adoption and implementation of policies and programs affecting minority veterans, and by making recommendations to the VA for the establishment or improvement of programs in the department for which minority veterans are eligible. The committee has consistently provided the VA and Congress with balanced, forwardlooking recommendations, many of which go far beyond the unique needs of minority veterans. In 2002, the committee met in my hometown of Chicago and warned that in the Chicago regional office ``it was mentioned that it was much easier to deny benefits than to grant benefits because of stringent requirements of VBA and Court of Appeal for Veterans Claims.'' Two years later, the Chicago Sun-Times exposed that Illinois veterans ranked 50th in disability benefit compensation. That information sparked a campaign by the Illinois congressional delegation to rectify the situation. Since then, the VA Inspector General has issued his report and recommendations and the Secretary has pledged additional staff and resources to the Chicago regional office. The committee will also be needed in the future since the unique concerns of minority veterans will become increasingly important for our Nation during the next decade. Currently, 18 percent of the troops serving in Iraq are African- American, while 10 percent are Hispanic. The concerns of these veterans and others will not go away on December 31, 2009, and neither should the committee created to ensure that they are represented. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans has helped our minority veterans from past wars with programs to address their concerns. We should not shortchange our newly returning soldiers by allowing this committee's tenure to expire. Many specific issues of concern to minority veterans need to be addressed further. Minority veterans confront the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, and substance abuse in greater numbers. Minority veterans suffer from a higher incidence of homelessness. Access to health care for Native American veterans is also a common problem. In addition, access to adequate job training is a difficulty for many minority veterans, a high percentage of whom qualify as low-income, category A veterans. Unfortunately, discrimination and cultural insensitivity remain problematic for minority veterans at many VA facilities. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans still has a lot of work to do, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to make this important committee permanent.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like to the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 417, 418 and 419.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was inadvertently absent from this Chamber on July 22, 2005. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 402.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this chamber on July 22, 2005. I would like the record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 415 and 416.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today, due to a serious delay in my flight. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 373, 374, and 375.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this chamber on July 11, 2005. I would like the record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes No. 363 and No. 364.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the Military Personnel Financial Services Protection Act, H.R. 458. We passed this bill last year, and it is designed to prevent predatory companies from using the imprimatur of the U.S. Military to prey on financially vulnerable service members by selling them insurance and investment products with little or no value. During consideration of this bill in the Financial Services Committee, I offered an amendment to extend these protections to abusive lenders who prey on our troops, such as payday lenders. These payday loans are the most abusive financial product being offered to our troops today, and, according to military personnel, payday loans threaten troop readiness. The New York Times and other news outlets have reported extensively on this problem. Noncommissioned officers at the Army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, say they counsel two to three soldiers per week who are indebted to payday lenders. ``It's legalized thievery,'' says Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Perrin, a member of the XVIIIth (18th) Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg. These companies put pressure on soldiers because they can be discharged if they default on too much debt, Perrin says. Staff Sgt. Carlton Brown says soldiers become distracted from their duties as they struggle to make payments and avoid disciplinary action. ``It affects a soldier's mission readiness, and that can affect a whole unit, big time,'' Brown says. The amendment I offered in Committee drew on the idea of my colleague Sam Graves, who introduced legislation capping interest rates on payday loans for service members. During that markup, Chairman Oxley agreed to work with me to include provisions regarding abusive lending in the manager's amendment for floor consideration. I am very pleased that our work has resulted in the inclusion of some basic, but important protections for our troops, against payday lenders and other abusive lenders who target our troops. I want to thank him and his staff for the countless hours they spent working to hammer out this compromise. I also want to thank Ranking Member Frank, Congressman Davis and their staffs for their hard work bringing this to fruition. Under this legislation, lenders (of both payday and other small loans) who target the military can no longer continue a number of egregious practices, including: requiring the involuntary assignment of military wages to secure payment of a loan; contacting, or threatening to contact the borrower's commanding officer or others in the military chain of command in effort to collect a loan; requiring the borrower to waive any rights under Federal or State law, including the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; or using any words or symbols that create the impression that any department of the military endorses the lender or any service or product of the lender. I am sorry to say that all of these unconscionable practices are currently used by certain payday or short term lenders. In addition, extremely high cost loans must be accompanied by a disclosure notice that informs the consumer of these protections and that there are other options available including grants or interest free loans from the military relief societies in the case of a family or other emergency. This may not sound like a lot, and I do wish that it contained additional limitations on the loan amount and the number of turnovers by payday lenders, similar to legislation recently enacted in my home State of Illinois, but this is a good start, since many of these payday and other short term lenders completely evade regulation by the States and Federal Government. I look forward to continuing to work on this issue. The Navy's senior enlisted Sailor, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry Scott testified earlier this year in front of the House Appropriations Committee about the pernicious nature of these payday loans. Scott characterized the industry as one ``that has made it a practice to prey upon our Sailors.'' Payday loan outlets, he said, often are found within a short walk outside the gates in the communities that surround Navy homeports, offering easy loans but with very high interest rates as compared to commercial lenders. He told the subcommittee that many who turn to these payday loan outlets end up far worse off than before. ``It is not being dramatic to state these payday loans to our troops could be a threat to their military readiness,'' he said. Payday loans are the most abusive financial product preying on consumers today, but service members, who can lose their job or even be court-martialed if they are in too much debt, suffer disproportionately. Those who claim to support the troops should agree to restrict the worst financial product out there. Once again, I thank my colleagues for their help in securing these provisions and look forward to working with them in the future.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, due to a family emergency, I was absent from this Chamber on June 24, 2005. I would like the record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 308, 312, 313, 315, 317 and 321. I would have also voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 309, 310, 311, 314, 316, 318, 319 and 320.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 322 and 323.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this chamber on June 7, 2005. I would like the record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 228 and 229. I also inadvertently missed rollcall vote 192 on May 19, 2005. I would like the record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 192.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Chairman, I was briefly absent from this Chamber today and inadvertently missed rollcall vote 250. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote 250.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to talk about family values and creating an immigration system that better values families, a system that keeps families strong and, most importantly, keeps them together. I know the issue of family values is a top priority for the President and for many in this Chamber, but when it comes to the issue of immigration, I am afraid our Nation's efforts to protect families, to keep mothers and fathers, parents and children together has fallen far short. So let me begin this evening by highlighting an example of the tragic consequences of our failed immigration policies and its disastrous and often destructive affects on hard-working families in my district. Meet the Benitez family. Rodolfo Benitez is a supervisor at the Civic Opera House's Tower Club. He is a U.S. citizen who works extremely hard so his children in the picture, who are also citizens, can get a good education and can realize all that our country has to offer. They are a great family. They are active and well-liked, respected in their community. And if you ever get a chance to meet Rodolfo, Jr., Brenda, Andrea, and their new baby, Eric, you will quickly realize that they are all we could wish for in children. But, Mr. Speaker, while this story may appear on the surface to have all the makings of the American dream, our Nation's convoluted immigration laws are making life a nightmare for the Benitez family, because about a year ago, Rodolfo's wife Maria was deported without time to even get her life in order. As the Chicago Tribune wrote, ``Her school-age children, who returned home one day with the panicked question: 'Where's mommy?' '' As parents, can anyone in this body imagine having to answer that question? Can anyone in this body imagine explaining to these beautiful, young children that their 4-month pregnant mother was being deported 2 days before Mother's Day with barely enough time to kiss her children goodbye? Can you imagine telling your children that they will not have the opportunity to see their new baby brother when he is born, because the Government of the United States and its immigration policy says, we are going to deport her? It is simply heart-wrenching. But in cities and small towns across our country, there are thousands of families facing the exact same situation as the Benitez family, because too often, our immigration system tears families apart, leaving single parents to fend for themselves and leaving children to grow up without a loving mother or father. Too often their stories are never told, and defenseless children and parents are forced to suffer in silence. In the case of Mrs. Benitez, we were fortunate enough to get her a temporary visa to return from Mexico to the United States so she could receive proper prenatal care and ensure that there were no complications with her pregnancy, but that visa expires this summer, and, after that, our immigration system, our law enforcement system will take Mrs. Benitez back to Mexico and take her away from her American citizen children and her American citizen husband. Who in this body can say that is right? No family should ever be faced with these questions. No mother or father should be faced with this pain and anguish. No family should be forced to compromise their values. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the President and this body not to remove Mrs. Benitez, Maria Benitez, from her American citizen husband, her children, and her community. I respectfully ask that we do everything in our power to allow her the opportunity to remain a full and productive member of the United States of America. For the sake of the Benitez family and for the sake of millions of others in similar situations, let us work in a bipartisan fashion toward a much-needed, comprehensive, family-driven immigration policy in this country, because we need a system that allows people to come out of the shadows and work here legally, safely, and humanely. We need a system that regulates the future flow of workers so that it greatly enhances our border security through a combination of cutting-edge technology, improved cooperation, and increased resources. We need an immigration system that deals directly with the undocumented who are living, working, and contributing to a better and more dynamic America. We need a system that is tough and enforceable. We need a system that would eliminate the exploitation and abuses that are part of our underground economy. Mr. Speaker, let us work together to create an immigration system that works for families, works for businesses, works for our community and does not take families like the Benitez family, and I want to reiterate, there are ten of thousands in the United States of America, American citizen husbands and American citizen wives being separated from spouses and from their American citizen children. Let us have real family values. Let us have an immigration system that keeps families united and together.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 241 and 242.