Luis Gutiérrez

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the members of 2000-2001 first and second grade classes of the Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois. I am proud to say that these young students are award-winning scientists. Earlier this year, they earned the Unisys Prize for their outstanding use of the Internet as a tool in science investigation. Their project was entitled, ``El Agua Trabaja! How Water Benefits Quality of Life in Chicago's Little Village.'' In collaboration with the Chicago Academy of Sciences and Friends of the Chicago River, the 2000-2001 first and second grade students of Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez Elementary School explored how the science of water benefits their Chicago neighborhood of Little Village. Specifically, these young scientists studied the water cycle, the three principal forms of water and ways to filter water to better understand how water and the Chicago River benefit their community. Using the Internet as their primary tool, the students shared what they learned by posting their scientific findings, personal journals, watercolor pictures and poetry on the Web. I applaud the 2000-2001 first and second grade students of Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez Elementary School for their creativity and innovation while executing their scientific investigation. I believe these students also benefited greatly from the guidance of their teachers and the support of their families when they were awarded with such an outstanding science award. ``El Agua Trabaja'' or ``Water Works'' is now a bilingual web site explaining the experiments, facts and figures associated with the importance of water in everyday lives. I am pleased to recognize the 2000-2001 first and second grade students who took part in this endeavor. The students in Ms. Nidsa LaLuz' class include Jaime Aguilar, Jesenia Avelar, Raul Cordova, Roxana Delgado, Juan Deluna, Alejandro Galvan, Amairan Galvan, Luis Garcia, Rosio Garcia, Keli Hernandez, Erick Martinez, Diego Nava, Israel Navarro, Jose Pena, Jorge Ramirez, Denisse Ruiz, Erwin Ruiz, Francisco Ruiz, Leonardo Sanchez, Maria Sosa, Sergio Vega, Samantha Vera, Jacob Villegas and Maria Zavala. The students in Ms. Claudia Torres' first grade class were Jose Aguirre, Christina Avila, Adrian Barraza, Guillermo Barriga, Fernando Cahue, Genesis Carreon, Denis Casanova, Chris Contreras, Yngrid Delacruz, Javier Deleon, Michael Gamez, Fernando Garcia, George Garcia, Francisco Gutierrez, Brenda Hernandez, Daniel Hernandez, Alejandro Ledezma, Genesis Lopez, Sarahi Michel, Marcos Osario, Jose Perez, Alexander Reyes, Christina Salazar, Yasmeen Salazar, Nadia Santiago, Alejandro Vazquez, Jesus Vera, Esmeralda Vergara and Ruby Zuno. First grade students in Ms. Gloria Carrareo's class were Marie Alcantar, Javier Flores, Bryan Gomez, Christopher Gomez, Miguel Gonzalez, Jose Granados, Gustavo Hernandez, Andrea Labra, Karina Lara, Gilberto Laureano, Nalleli Luna, Alejandro Macias, Victor Magos, Lizett Mata, Crystal Medina, Beda Mendoza, Jose Mendoza, Luis Navarrete, Leonel Palaez, Bianca Paredes, Carmen Perea, Alvaro Quiroz, Alejandro Rojas, Cristina Rojas, Vicente Salamanca, Leobardo Solis and Ixsel Zavala. First and second grade students in Ms. Jennifer Myer's class were Guadalupe Avila, Virginia Bahena, Jose Carrasco, Alejandro Duenas, Cristian Garcia, Juan Garcia, Marco Garcia, Maria Garcia, Melissa Garcia, Valentino Gonzalez, Monica Hernandez, Karen Laureano, Friney Lopez, Kevin Lopez, Ignatio Mandujano, Elizabeth Medina, Edgar Miranda, Andrew Mojica, Monica Monreal, Joyce Morales, Brenda Nava, Luis Palma, Joel Ramirez, Maria Resendiz, Daisy Rubio and Flavio Tafoya. I wish all of these students, their teachers and parents continued success in their endeavors and I thank them for supporting and promoting the interest of young minds in science and technology.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, we all search for words of wisdom that will heal these wounds. Yet, there are few poets who could pen the phrases we long to hear. And, certainly, I do not presume to possess the vocabulary to put this tragedy in its proper perspective. I simply rise to say the following. And I say it with confidence: At this moment, all Americans--regardless of our backgrounds, regardless of our political affiliations, and regardless of the languages we speak--all of us speak with one voice. As this resolution demonstrates, all of us speak with one voice in mourning our fellow Americans who have died, and in expressing sympathy for the families, friends and colleagues whom they have left behind. We speak with one voice--one voice--in expressing immense appreciation and awe for the emergency personnel who answered the call of duty, many of whom did not return. One voice expresses anger and outrage. One voice asks: ``What can we do to help?'' And one voice expresses full, complete and unwavering support for our military and for our commander-in-chief. I support this resolution, above all, for spirit of unity that it embodies. As these events have demonstrated, none of us can predict what today, or the next day, will bring. Yet, Americans can--by uniting, and speaking with one voice--make certain that tomorrow will bring us a nation that is, and always will be, strong yet free, diverse yet indivisible, and, while ever mindful of the magnitude of our loss, also eternally hopeful and endlessly optimistic that our Nation's greatness will only grow.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Day Laborer Fairness and Protection Act,'' a bill to ensure fair wages and due process for day laborers. Day laborers are individuals who are hired by agencies to work on a day-to-day basis for employers who pay for the services of temporary laborers. Day labor is not of a clerical or professional nature. Most day laborers perform construction, warehouse, restaurant, janitorial, landscaping or light industrial work--often taking home far less than the minimum wage. In the absence of federal guidelines, day laborers are often subjected to long, unpaid wait-periods before being assigned to a job. Commonly, these workers also face dangerous working conditions and are paid lower wages than full-time workers performing the same or similar jobs. Further, day laborers are frequently charged high (often undisclosed) fees for on-the-job meals, transportation to and from job sites and special attire and safety equipment necessary for jobs. Some agencies even ask workers to sign waivers in case they are injured on the job. Partially due to these unfair labor conditions, many day laborers are caught in a cycle of poverty. A recent study by the University of Illinois Center for Urban Economic Development found that 65 percent of 510 surveyed day laborers receive $5.15 per hour. Taking into consideration the number of hours spent waiting to be assigned to work (often between 1.5 and three hours), the real value per hour of work is reduced to less than about four dollars per hour. This low figure does not reflect transportation and food and equipment fees, which are often deducted from day laborers' wages. To address these problems, this Act requires day laborer wages that are equal to those paid to permanent employees who are performing substantially equivalent work, with consideration given to seniority, experience, skills & qualifications. Also, it mandates wages for job assignment wait-times lasting more than thirty minutes. Such wages shall be at a rate that is not less than federal or state minimum wages. Further, it requires itemized statements showing deductions made from day laborers' wages. Finally, it mandates that when a day laborer is hurt on the job, the employer who has requested the services of the day laborer provide for coverage of health care costs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this pro-labor legislation.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this chamber when roll call votes number 257, 258, and 259 were cast. I want the record to show that had I been present in this chamber at the time these votes were cast, I would have voted ``yes'' on roll call vote number 257, ``yes'' on roll call vote 258, ``yes'' on roll call vote 259.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank both gentlemen for all their work on this issue, and I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Chairman, I would like to engage in a colloquy with the Republican manager, the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), and the Democratic manager, my colleague, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan). First, I would like to recognize both the chairman and the ranking minority member for their continued support for medical and prosthetic research in the Veterans Health Administration. It is in great measure due to their support and commitment that this bill has come to the floor with approximately $20 million more than had been initially programmed for prosthetic research. Dating back to the spring, when I first contacted them and their colleagues in the Committee on Appropriations, urging them to take the necessary step that we began last year when the chairman similarly approved my amendment to raise the funding of this very program, they have once again responded affirmatively to my request that we increase the funding for this extremely important research program. Secondly, I would like to emphasize that this increase will assist the VA research program in achieving the stability necessary for successful research, one that can eventually achieve its full potential for finding cures and treatments for many chronic and terrible diseases. The VA research program is uniquely positioned to advance diagnosis and treatment for conditions that particularly affect veterans, including prostate cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, mental illnesses, spinal cord injury, and aging- related diseases. But I remind my colleagues that, ultimately, our Nation as a whole is the beneficiary of research conducted by the VA. Mr. Chairman, this generous increase would not have been possible without the complete support of the chairman and the ranking member. I believe in their commitment to this program and trust they will work with the Senate in conference to secure up to the $391 million for this program. I wish to note that our colleagues in the Senate have provided a $40 million increase for this deserving program. I ask the chairman and the valued ranking member for their commitment to work with their Senate counterparts during conference to achieve the highest possible funding for the VA medical and prosthetic research program.

Mr. GUTIERREZ. I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia.

Mr. GUTIERREZ. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber when rollcall votes Nos. 206, 213, 214 were cast. I want the Record to show that had I been present in this Chamber at the time these votes were cast, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 206, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 213, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 214.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be withdrawn as a cosponsor of H.R. 1271. My name was added in error.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me, and I thank all those working on this issue. Let me just say that it would be nice to do what is possible, but let us get one thing very, very clear. There was a vote on this House floor in 1997, after the program was eliminated, and the House voted affirmatively not to extend but to reinstate 245(i). That is the record of the House of Representatives. It is the record of the Senate on more than one occasion that they have voted to reinstate 245(i), the problem is when it comes to conference. So I think some of our colleagues think too little of the compassion and of the justice that can be done in this House. It is my belief that if we brought a vote back here for the reinstatement of 245(i), it would pass the House of Representatives. This should have been dealt with in the committee, the Committee on the Judiciary, marked up in the Committee on the Judiciary, and brought before this House to have a full debate so that we could amend it, so that we could listen to other points of view. I am standing here asking myself if my recollection of history has somehow failed me. Last year, it was the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who went to Member after Member after Member; who went to the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Democratic Caucus, members of the Republican Party, and we put together a coalition where over 155 Members of the House signed a letter stating that they would not vote for any final budget unless there was a reinstatement of 245(i). Forty-six Senators signed the same letter saying they would vote for it. It was the Congressional Hispanic Caucus that 2 months ago sat with President George Bush, and we did not ask for an extension of the program with an arbitrary deadline of May 1, we asked for a reinstatement of the program. That is what we asked for. And then it seems almost spectacular to me that we come on this House floor and everybody has been spoken to. I do not remember one occasion where members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus or those of us that have put in bills have been spoken to. This is a one-way dialogue that we are having here. If anyone had spoken to us, we would have all come together. I think the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) and many, many others know what is necessary, and I think they do not truly have a sense of what this House would do. Now, let me state very, very clearly who we are talking about and what is wrong with this legislation. It says that an individual had to have qualified by April 30 in order to get in on the program. That is wrong. Why is it wrong? I want to tell my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) why it is wrong. Because there are tens of thousands of people who have waited 2, 3, and 4 years for their application for citizenship. They are still processing them; gathering dust. And because of those years and years and years of delay on the part of our government, on the part of our government, where people have played by the rules, they cannot apply for their loved ones to get their visas, since they are waiting for years, and they are going to continue to wait for more years, and then we have an arbitrary 4 months. Now, if all that backlog were cleared up, I could understand it. The fact is that if tomorrow a citizen of the United States becomes 21 years old, tomorrow, they cannot go and apply for a visa under 245(i) for their mother, for their father. Yes, some may say they are here undocumented illegally. That does not mean that is not their mother and their father and they do not want to keep their families together. Think about it a moment. An American citizen who has a wife, a person that he loves, and that couple may be bringing children into this world, may not qualify under this program because they have consummated the marriage after the arbitrary deadline. Madam Speaker, we are talking about keeping families together. Some say, ``They are here illegally.'' Maybe that is the case, but we eat the fruits that they pick and labor for. We know that they are here in our restaurants and our hotels. They work and slave every day. Let us give them the chance to become full partners in this great democracy.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this chamber when roll call votes number 87, 90, 91, 100 and 101 were cast. I want the record to show that had I been present in this chamber at the time these votes were cast, I would have voted ``no'' on roll call vote number 87, ``yes'' on roll call vote 90, ``yes'' on roll call vote 91, ``no'' on roll call vote 100 and ``yes'' on roll call vote 101.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, the bill H.R. 1457 was reintroduced in error on April 4, 2001. The correct bill, H.R. 917 (the Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act), was already introduced on March 7, 2001.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, on March 7 I introduced the ``Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act of 2001,'' legislation to mandate a livable wage for employees under Federal contracts and subcontracts. Seventy representatives currently cosponsor this important legislation. Nearly a third of the members of the U.S. labor force work full-time, year-round and still do not earn enough to sustain a family of four at no less than the poverty threshold of $17,650 per year for a family of four. Employees who work hard at full-time jobs should be paid a wage that assures they will not live in poverty. To address this problem, this Act requires that: Employees of Federal contracts or subcontracts of more than $10,000 be paid the greater of $8.49 per hour or the hourly wage necessary to reach the poverty level. Individuals hired by the United States government also receive a living wage, helping thousands of more workers to stay above the poverty level. Employees of Federal contracts or subcontracts and individuals hired by the United States government receive benefits such as medical or hospital care, vacation and holiday pay, disability and sickness insurance, life insurance and pensions. Although Congress passed laws such as the Davis Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act to help ensure that employees of Federal contractors earn a decent wage, thousands of federal workers and federally contracted workers still do not earn enough to support themselves or their families. This legislation will allow hard-working Americans to earn quality wages and to increase their savings for such essential needs as their retirement and their children's education. We believe the Federal government must take responsible, workable steps to reward working Americans and to help keep them out of poverty. This bill represents a practical step toward that goal. Mr. Speaker, I submit the full text of this meaningful legislation for the Record and I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, on March 29 I introduced the ``Wire Transfer Fairness and Disclosure Act of 2001,'' a bill to require additional disclosures relating to exchange rates in transfers involving international transactions. Sixty-two representatives currently support this important legislation. Immigrants throughout the United States work hard, save money and send billions of dollars to relatives living in foreign countries. The money sent home helps finance basic needs ranging from food and medicine to education to new homes. Unfortunately, customers wiring money to Mexico are often losing millions of dollars to undisclosed ``currency conversion fees'' charged by giant firms such as Western Union and MoneyGram. Wire Transfer companies aggressively target audiences in immigrant communities with ads promising low rates for international transfers. However, such promises are grossly misleading particularly for those with ties to Mexico or other Latin American countries, since companies do not always clearly disclose extra fees charged for converting dollars into Mexican pesos. While large wire service companies typically obtain pesos at bulk bargain rates, they charge a significant currency conversion fee to their U.S. customers. The exchange rate charged to customers sending U.S. dollars to Mexico routinely varies from the benchmark rates by as much as 15 percent. The profits from these hidden currency conversion fees are staggering, allowing companies to reap millions of dollars more than they make from service fees. To address these problems, this Act requires full disclosure of all fees involved in all money-wiring transactions. More specifically, the bill requires that any financial institution or money transmitting business which initiates an international money transfer on behalf of a consumer (whether or not the consumer maintains an account at such institution or business) shall provide the following disclosures: The exchange rate used by the financial institution or money transmitting business in connection with such transaction. The exchange rate prevailing at a major financial center of the foreign country whose currency is involved in the transaction, as of the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the date of the transaction (or the official exchange rate, if any, of the government or central bank of such foreign country). All commissions and fees charged by the financial institution or money transmitting business in connection with such transaction. The exact amount of foreign currency to be received by the recipient in the foreign country, which shall be disclosed to the consumer before the transaction is consummated and printed on the receipt given to the consumer. Mr. Speaker, I submit the full text of this pro-consumer legislation for the record and I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the important resolution considered on the Floor of the House today expressing the deep sympathy of Congress for the people of El Salvador and for the tragic losses suffered as a result of the earthquakes of January 13 and February 13, 2001. I strongly support the continuing and substantial increase of relief and reconstruction assistance provided by representatives of the international community as well as the United States. As we all know, in a cruel act of fate, two powerful earthquakes hit Central America this winter causing catastrophic losses in El Salvador. The full extent of the damage is still difficult to fathom. In all, these catastrophic natural occurrences left at least 1,200 people dead. More than one million people have been declared homeless. An estimated 200,000 homes were destroyed. Roads and bridges were completely washed out or severely damaged by the landslides. Many school and health care facilities had to be closed. Running and clean water is much needed. Most of the agricultural supply has been severely threatened. Moreover, survivors are threatened by serious epidemic and disease. Such an environmental disaster has resulted in a substantial and immediate disruption of living conditions in El Salvador and warrants our government's continued support and assistance. In short, the needs of El Salvador at this time are enormous and we need to act accordingly and generously. I applaud the decision announced by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) following this tragedy to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to all Salvadoran nationals living in this country. This will be a relief for many Salvadorans who depend financially on their relatives living in the United States. On March 7, I joined more than fifty of my colleagues to ask the President to address the needs of El Salvador in this time of need. We requested that the administration develop a significant multi-year relief package for El Salvador, targeted toward areas of housing, crop assistance, clean water and health care. We suggest that this plan be considered as part of an emergency supplemental appropriations bill. We will continue to press the administration to act accordingly. The resolution we are adopting today is a step in the right direction and one of many that should be taken by this House to provide a compassionate and generous response from the United States toward El Salvador to help maintain the stability of the entire region.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to give my full support once again to the work of Chicago civil and human rights leader Reverend Ronald I. Schupp, who is embarking on his fifth annual peaceful twenty- four hour fast and vigil outside of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. Reverend Schupp is calling upon the government of the People's Republic of China to grant independence to Tibet and its people. His vigil will be held on March 10, the day that is known each year as Tibetan National Day. This day recognizes the ongoing efforts and continuing struggle of the Tibetan people to gain their freedom. I fully support Reverend Schupp and the vigil he is undertaking once again.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this chamber on Tuesday, October 24, 2000 when rollcall vote No. 543 was cast and on Wednesday, October 25, 2000 when rollcall vote No. 551 was cast. I want the record to show that had I been present in this chamber at the time these votes were cast, I would have voted ``no'' on each of these rollcall votes.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, on the other side of the aisle they continue to claim that the Democrats' Latino and Immigrant Fairness proposal is dangerous, radical, unprecedented. It is an amnesty, they say. Well, where have they been? Clearly, they have forgotten American history, the history of a Nation built by and defended by immigrants. What is surprising is they do not even remember their own recent Republican record. In 1997, this Republican-led Congress did the right thing and granted amnesty to tens of thousands of Nicaraguan and Cuban refugees authored by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith). That is the same relief we seek today for refugees who entered the U.S. from the same region for the same reasons at the same period of time. Why can we not give to Hondurans, Guatamalans, Salvadorans, and, yes, Haitians, the same protections we were able to give, led by this Republican-controlled Congress? They forget their history. Where were they, those who claim today that this is unprecedented, when this House voted in 1997 to instruct the conferees to extend 245(i)? I am sure the chairman remembers when we won that vote. Why did he have that vote? Because the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), both my friends, demanded a vote. And they lost the vote, big time. Why did they lose the vote? Because Republicans and Democrats joined together to say immigrant families should stay together. And then a closed-door back- room deal killed it after we won it right here on the House floor. And where were they when President Ronald Reagan signed a broad 1986 legalization bill? Did they protest? Did they claim he was coddling criminal aliens? No, they honored Reagan and idolized him, even today naming a post office for him. Not only are Latino and immigrant fairness proposals consistent with American values, they are consistent with policies when they serve the GOP that they have wholeheartedly supported. Let us do the right thing. My colleagues have done it before; let us do it again. Name the post office for Ronald Reagan and follow the law he signed. announcement by the speaker pro tempore

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about real Latino and immigrant fairness, whom are we talking about? We are talking about legislation crucial to immigrants from all backgrounds, from all countries, to every American who understands that our country was built by people from around the world, that it once offered sanctuary to those fleeing the dangers around the world. I am gratified that many of my colleagues have joined me in cosponsoring legislation to rectify this crisis, to protect people who have fled political violence in Central America and the Caribbean, to provide relief to immigrants who have resided in the U.S. since 1986 and some decades before, including many of those who were wrongly turned away admittedly by the INS and Immigration officials when they sought their permanent adjustment, and to reinstate a family-based visa program 245(i) program. Instead, we are left with so-called ``LIFE'' bill, a bill that was hatched by Republicans in the last 24 hours. Let me tell my colleagues, this LIFE bill is rife with errors, most notably, the error of omission. An immigration bill that does not address the issue of parity for all Central Americans is not worth the paper it is printed on. It is unworthy of serious discussion other than sharp criticism. It is a relic of Cold War politics. Because immigrants and Latinos, among them millions of voters, will not be deceived by this ploy, will not be dissuaded from our goal nor divided from each other. This current proposal is the legislative equivalent of offering a single cup of water to an entire band of people who have been exiled, left to wander for years through the desert; and then its sponsors have the audacity to expect those tired and thirsty people to be grateful for a few elusive drops of water of relief. Mr. Speaker, do not send Members home until we allow immigrants to continue to call America their home. Do not allow this Congress to end until we have brought an end to the injustice and insecurity that has plagued the immigrant community. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle, remember the principles at stake. Forget about politics. Forget about partisanship. Instead, focus on the principles of fairness, freedom, and families. Ronald Reagan signed the amnesty bill of 1986. Let all those be in America that Ronald Reagan signed a bill for.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber on Wednesday, October 18, 2000, when rollcall vote numbers 531, 532, and 533 were cast. Had I been present in this Chamber at the time these votes were cast, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of these rollcall votes.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to do my share of duty to history. Today I rise to celebrate the life of Roberto Clemente and to recognize his enormous contributions to humankind. I am very honored to do so. In this particular case, I respectfully think that I contribute, however humbly, to add to the prestige of this House. This is the people's House. Today I rise to pay very deserving tribute to a hero of the people. As a son of Puerto Rican parents, I pay homage to who was, perhaps, the favorite son of Puerto Rico. In doing so, I feel doubly proud. Today I feel prouder than ever of being a Member of this august body, a body that in recognizing the greatness of this champion elevates its own. As a Puerto Rican myself, my heart fills with joy knowing of the effect this humble action of ours here today will have in the minds and the souls of hundreds of thousands of Puerto Rico and Hispanic youth in my district in Chicago, throughout the country, and in Puerto Rico. Much is made from rags to riches stories. In this case, it is different. Because, in achieving what the former Commissioner of Baseball, Mr. Bowie Kuhn, called ``the touch of royalty,'' Roberto Clemente enriched us all. Roberto was the son of a cane sugar worker, Melchor Clemente, and his mother, Luisa Walker. He was the youngest of seven children. He was born in the municipality of Carolina, Puerto Rico, in Barrio San Anton. As my friend, the Honorable Jose Aponte, Mayor of Carolina, is fond of saying, Carolina greets most visitors to Puerto Rico, because that is where the international airport lies. Carolina has beautiful rolling hills that lead to El Yunque, the mountain where our Taino Indians believed to be home to the Supreme Creator, Yukiyu. Roberto Clemente was born in the midst of the depression of the 1930s, but was raised by a family full of love and with the best of the Puerto Rican traditions of respect and civility. Cane sugar workers in Puerto Rico lived a very humble life and a life of poverty. Roberto began playing baseball like many of his contemporaries did, doing batting practice with a broken broomstick hitting bottle caps. He said that, after swinging hundreds of times at bottle caps, a baseball looked as big as a coconut. Roberto made by hand the first baseball he ever owned, using a discarded golf ball as its core and many layers of string from burlap dried beans and rice bags, finally covered with tape. From a skinny, smallish boy, Roberto grew to become a superb athlete, demonstrating with hard work and dedication what one can achieve. Unlike Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente was not the first one of his race to break into the majors. Unlike Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente faced a double kind of discrimination, as he was both black and Puerto Rican. Unlike Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente faced also a language and cultural barrier. But Mr. Speaker, Roberto Clemente was like his people. Puerto Ricans, like their Latino brothers and sisters, are hard working, proud, and dignified. Despite centuries of colonialism, Puerto Ricans continue to search for a solution to their colonial situation. As they struggle with the scourge, they have continued to create and develop, working hard to improve both their island and communities where they migrated to and reside in the United States, communities like mine in Chicago, where we will now have the honor of naming a Post Office after Roberto Clemente. After a short stint in Montreal, Clemente was traded in 1955 to the Pittsburgh Pirates where he would end his glorious career. The team rebuilt around him, and he led it to contend for the pennant in 1958 and to the world championship in 1960. Unfortunately, after a season in which he hit .314 and drove in a club leading 94 runs, he finished behind three white teammates and others in the vote for most valuable player. Undeterred, Roberto Clemente went on to compile one of the brightest lifetime records in Major League Baseball: four batting titles, Most Valuable Player in 1966, 12 Golden Gloves, 14 appearances in the All Star Games, a National League record of five consecutive seasons leading in outfield assists, and a lifetime batting average of .317. In the 1971 World Series, when he again led his team to the World Championship, Roberto Clemente hit .414 and two home runs, including the winning blow in game seven and made two extraordinary catches. For his performance, he was awarded the World Series Most Valuable Player award. Next year in 1972, as if to say good-bye to all the children and admirers the world over, Roberto Clemente became the 11th player in the history of organized baseball to reach the 3,000 hit mark. Benjamin Franklin said, ``There was never yet a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.'' Those wise words from one of the wisest of our Founding Fathers never rang so true as when spoken about Roberto Clemente. For today, and forever, we will remember Roberto Clemente as much for what he accomplished in the playing field as for what he accomplished outside of it. Roberto Clemente became a symbol to Puerto Rican, Hispanic and minority youth, actually to all youth. He was the essence of a success story, yet he was always a true gentleman, a caring father, a devoted husband, and someone dedicated to uplifting all around him. He never forgot whence he came from. He devoted countless hours to youth, especially poor youth. We can have a real measure of a man, not only by the way he lives, but also by the way he dies. The end came to Roberto Clemente in such a way that he is now enshrined forever in the hearts of all Hispanics along with Simon Bolivar, Jose Marti, and Cesar Chavez. After a devastating earthquake virtually destroyed Managua, Nicaragua, Roberto Clemente became the leader of the aid efforts to Managua. After reports reached him that the first supplies that landed in Nicaragua had been grafted by the members of a corrupt military, Roberto Clemente decided, against all advice, to fly with the next airplane load of supplies to ensure that they would reach the poor and needy of Nicaragua. He could have sent a check. He could have sent the supplies, but he wanted to make sure. This baseball player got on the plane. I wonder how many of us would get on a similar airplane. As people were partying the arrival of the new year, Roberto Clemente died when his plane went down in 120 feet of water just north of the same international airport of his hometown of Carolina. Mr. Speaker, there has been countless acts that seek to justly recognize the great man that was Roberto Clemente. Among them, let me cite a few. In 1973, Major League Baseball made an exception to the 5- year rule and accepted Roberto Clemente into the Hall of Fame, roughly a year after he played his last year in the majors. It was, I believe, most fitting for the greatest of Latino players to become the first Hispanic player ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 1973, Major League Baseball renamed its award that recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contributions to his team, formerly the ``Commissioner's Award'' to the Roberto Clemente Award. But Roberto Clemente is honored every day, in song, in poetry and in actions that emulate his own by young and old alike in Puerto Rico, in Chicago, in Pittsburgh, and everywhere. Everywhere there are Hispanic or lovers of baseball or good people who admire a deed of sacrifice and love, there is a school or a baseball park or a road bearing the name of this true hero of the people. The U.S. Postal Service issued the first Roberto Clemente stamp in 1984 and recently featured Roberto Clemente as part of its Legends of Baseball Series issued in Atlanta on July 6, 2000. Mr. Speaker, in voting for H.R. 4831, this House is joining with millions of Latinos and sports fans everywhere to pay dual tribute to Roberto Clemente.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber on Monday, July 25, 2000 when rollcall vote No. 487 was cast and on Tuesday, July 26, 2000 when rollcall vote No. 493 was cast. Had I been present in this Chamber at the time these votes were cast, I would have voted ``yes'' on each of them.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Day Laborer Fairness and Protection Act,'' a bill to ensure equal wages and due process for day laborers. Twenty-five representatives have joined me as original cosponsors of this important legislation. Day laborers are individuals who are hired by agencies to work on a day-to-day basis for employers who pay for the services of temporary laborers. Day labor is not of a clerical or professional nature. Most day laborers perform construction, warehouse, restaurant, janitorial, landscaping or light industrial work--usually for the minimum wage. In the absence of federal guidelines, day laborers are often subjected to long, unpaid wait-periods before being assigned to a job. Commonly, these workers also face dangerous working conditions and are paid lower wages than full-time workers performing the same or similar jobs. Further, day laborers are frequently charged high (often undisclosed) fees for on-the-job meals, transportation to and from job sites and special attire and safety equipment necessary for jobs. Partially due to these unfair labor conditions, many day laborers are caught in a cycle of poverty. A recent study by the University of Illinois Center for Urban Economic Development found that 65 percent of 510 surveyed day laborers receive $5.15 per hour. Taking into consideration the number of hours spent waiting to be assigned to work (of-ten between 1.5 and three hours), the real value per hour of work is reduced to less than about four dollars per hour. This low figure does not reflect transportation and food and equipment fees, which are often deducted from day laborers' wages. To address these problems, this Act includes the following definitions and requirements: Day laborer is defined as an individual who contracts for employment with a day labor service agency. Day labor service agency is defined as any person or entity engaged in the business of employing day laborers to provide services for any third party employer. Day laborer wages that are equal to those paid to permanent employees who are performing substantially equivalent work, with consideration given to seniority, experience, skills & qualifications. Wages for job assignment wait-times lasting more than thirty minutes. Such wages shall be at a rate that is not less than federal or state minimum wages. Itemized statements showing deductions made from day laborers' wages. When a day laborer is hurt on the job, coverage of health care costs by the employer who has requested the services of the day laborer. Enforcement of the ``Day Laborer Fairness and Protection Act'' by the U.S. Department of Labor.