Charlie Gonzalez

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a young American, Mr. John Paco, of San Antonio who has dedicated his life to helping others. Nor would this be the only body to recognize the work of John Paco. The American Ambulance Association has chosen to honor John as a 2005 Star of Life for over 10 years of service in emergency medicine. As lead supervisor for American Medical Response at Randolph Air Force Base, John has been at the forefront of improving the care and streamlining the operations in his unit. John's peers nominated him for this award because they know in a crisis of any sort, John can be counted on. Moreover, John's attitude conveys to his coworkers and patients good will and competence. In situations where one's health and livelihood hang in the balance, a steady hand, a smile, and cool, quick efficiency can make the difference between surviving and serious, even permanent disability. The same way you and I go to our office and make decisions that may affect the lives of many Americans, John goes to his workplace, but the stakes are much higher. A fraction of a second lost or misused or a thousand other x-factors can mean immediate and irreversible change for a person unable to fight for his or her life. John's demeanor enables him to quickly connect with others, a skill vital in working with others when the consequences can be so dire. One of John's coworkers has said he will make the best of a bad situation which strikes me as a fitting description for what he does every time he dons his uniform. When someone dials 911, the situation is grave, so having someone as able and devoted as John on the scene ensures both a high level of competence and care. His can-do attitude and efficacy are crucial in a profession like John's and his leadership inspires those who serve under him. San Antonio is proud to have one of its own commended, especially a person who has given so selflessly of himself and has touched the lives of so many in our community. By giving so much of himself, John his efforts in helping to streamline and improve a number of procedures vital to the timely care of the injured. The PowerPoint presentation he helped develop demonstrated the costs financial and otherwise of ambulance collisions to all involved.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care for the dedication of the only Mobile Mammography Unit (MMU) in the area of San Antonio and surrounding counties. The MMU will provide breast health services and education to women who otherwise would either have difficulty accessing or not be able to access these services because of financial, transportation, cultural or other constraints. The CHRISTUS Santa Rosa MMU will assist those who are uninsured and underserved as well as working women who have difficulty leaving the workplace to get a mammogram. All women who have a positive mammogram will be guided to appropriate medical services for follow up care. As we know, breast cancer is the leading cancer among white and African American women. Statistically, every three minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer and one out of every eight women in America will develop breast cancer at some time in her life. However, when breast cancer is detected early, a five-year survival rate is 96 percent. Today, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital is proud to begin offering assistance for screening mammograms to the women of South and Central Texas to include uninsured and underinsured women of San Antonio and the surrounding counties. The MMU has partnered with community organizations such as the San Antonio Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, WINGS (Women Interested in Nurturing, Giving, Sharing), the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Programs, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and many others to provide the full range of services. Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to commend CHRISTUS Santa Rosa in San Antonio, Texas for bringing the mobile mammography unit back to the area after three years of not having a unit. I especially want to thank the collaboration of community organizations, the doctors, nurses and staff for their hard work and continued dedication, and wish them well as they continue their life-saving services to the community.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1072, a bill to designate the postal facility in Goliad, Texas, as the ``Judge Emilio Vargas Post Office Building.'' This bill was introduced by my good friend and colleague, Congressman Ruben Hinojosa. Born in Goliad, Texas, Judge Vargas has dedicated his life to the people of Goliad, and I find it most fitting to honor his service by naming the Goliad Post Office after him. As a first-generation American, Judge Vargas attended segregated schools because of his Mexican heritage. After attending Bee College, he volunteered and joined the Air Force as an airman. Upon leaving the Air Force, Judge Vargas worked to improve the lives of the people in the community. He was active during the civil rights movement during the 1960s and he continues to fight to increase Hispanic participation in government. Judge Vargas served 14 years on the Goliad Independent School District Board of Trustees. While he was there, the Goliad School Board was voted one of the 10 best school boards in Texas. Judge Vargas understands the importance of developing an educated population, and because of his commitment, numerous students have gone on to prestigious colleges and universities, including the U.S. military academies. For 28 years, Judge Vargas served as a caseworker with the Texas Department of Human Services, helping the indigent and vulnerable in a six-county region. During his tenure, he worked with the Job Corps program helping to train new workers, and with the Surplus Commodity Programs to feed hungry families. During the past 10 years, Judge Vargas has served as the Justice of the Peace for Goliad County and for 9 years was a Reserve Deputy for the Goliad County Sheriff's Department. Goliad is the birthplace of Mexican General Zaragoza whose defeat of the French Army is celebrated as Cinco de Mayo. In addition, Goliad has played a significant role in the War for Texas Independence. Judge Vargas has been a member of the Zaragoza Society for over 45 years, and the chairman for at least a decade. Through this work, Judge Vargas brought national recognition to Goliad's historic significance both in Mexican and Texas history. I believe it is most fitting to honor Judge Vargas' service to the people of Goliad by naming the Goliad Post Office after him, and urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join San Antonio and the world in mourning the passing of Pope John Paul II, a great religious and humanitarian leader. Pope John Paul II was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. He excelled in school as a brilliant student and athlete, gaining a passion for religion, poetry, and the theatre. He was ordained in 1946, assuming priestly duties in 1949 as chaplain to university students at Krakow's St. Florian's Church. He rose steadily through the church hierarchy, becoming the auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958 and was later appointed archbishop of Krakow in January 1964. During this time he made a name for himself as a formidable theologian and staunch defender of the Catholic faith as he taught at the Krakow Seminary and Catholic University of Lublin. He was later elevated to cardinal in June 1967, and elected as Pope John Paul II on October 16, 1978. He proved to be one of the most energetic and hard-working men ever to occupy the Papal See, visiting more than 120 countries, delivering more than 2,000 public addresses, and issuing a plethora of encyclicals and apostolic letters. Pope John Paul II was the third longest serving pontiff in history, serving for 26 years. His passing marks the end of one of the longest and most widely respected reigns in papal history. A man of the cloth, Pope John Paul II was also a man of the people. His teachings, spiritual guidance, and leadership came from his belief in peace and justice and the goodness of mankind. It was that belief that guided him as he journeyed around the world reaching out to people of all faiths. He was a world leader and respected statesman who challenged communism and advocated democracy, and who always championed the causes of the poor and our great responsibility to them. Pope John Paul II was a blessing to this world, and though he has left us now, his spirit, his love, and his lessons should guide us for a lifetime.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced a House resolution recognizing the long career of public service of Archbishop Patrick Flores of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Archbishop Flores, the first Mexican American Bishop in the United States, will be retiring on Tuesday, February 15, 2005, after 34 years of service as a bishop. Patrick Fernandez Flores, was born on July 26, 1929 to Patricio Flores and Trinidad Fernandez de Flores in Ganado, Texas. He was the seventh of nine children. After graduating from Kirwin High School in Galveston, Texas, Patrick Flores entered the St. Mary's Seminary in La Porte, Texas. On May 26, 1956 he was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood and served the Diocese of Galveston-Houston for the next 14 years. On Cinco de Mayo--May 5, 1970 in San Antonio, Texas, Patrick Fernandez Flores was consecrated a bishop in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. His appointment was an event of great significance in the history of South Texas and the United States. While the Mexican- American community was one of the largest Catholic communities in the United States, until that day in 1970 there had never been a Mexican- American bishop. In that regard, like other civil rights leaders of the time, Archbishop Flores broke a barrier in a major national institution--the Catholic Church, and in doing so, he helped to lay the groundwork for a more equal society. Less than a decade later, in 1979, Bishop Flores was consecrated Archbishop for his Archdiocese. Archbishop Flores has committed his life not only to the service to his Church but to the wider community. He has been a leader on countless public policy issues that improved the lives of his parishioners and created new opportunities for many Americans to participate in the American Dream. He has long been an advocate for public housing, for the rights of immigrants, for health care for the poor, for economic development, for education, and for multi-cultural understanding. Among his many accomplishments were the creation of the Mexican American Cultural Center, a unique program dedicated to developing Catholic leadership that is responsive to the needs of increasing diverse society, and contributing to the establishment of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, a national program that has provided over 68,000 college scholarships to economically disadvantaged Hispanics. At the heart of both these programs is the heart of the Archbishop's social vision of giving hope to the disadvantaged and constructing a society that respects diversity and truly values equality. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the House to pass this resolution in the coming weeks. Archbishop Patrick Flores has been a national leader not only for the cause of Hispanic rights but for the rights of all Americans.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a San Antonio hometown hero. The ``sweet science,'' as the sport of boxing has been called, has provided an arena for epic battles that have produced larger than life prize-fight champions who have, throughout the sport's history, captivated the national attention. Marciano, Ali, Leonard, De La Hoya--all of them are synonymous with boxing and all are well-known champions. However, for every prize- fighter who captured a title and the national spotlight, there is one whose career has not received the attention and accolades it truly deserves. ``Jesse'' James Leija of San Antonio is one of those champions, and his career and commitment to succeeding deserves to be commemorated. Best known to fans of the sport. ``Jesse'' James'' intense talent in the ring resulted in some of the best boxing matches in recent history. And in a sport that has seen it's share of controversial personas, ``Jesse'' James always maintained a dignity and respect for his opponent, the sport and the fans. While many boxing careers last only a few years, ``Jesse'' James' recently announced that he is retiring after an astonishing seventeen years in the ring. The sport will undoubtedly miss him. ``Jesse'' James had a truly impressive career. Having faced and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds on his way to achieving great success, the story of ``Jesse'' James Leija is one that can inspire anyone, in or out of the ring. Born and raised on the South Side of San Antonio, James is a proud graduate of Harlandale High School where being told he was too small to play football drove him in the direction of an even more challenging sport--boxing. His parents, including his former pro-fighter father, would not allow him to box until he graduated from high school. So compared to most aspiring boxers, James got a late start first entering the ring at the age of 22. He quickly won his first fifteen fights and ultimately compiled an impressive 23 win and 5 loss amateur record. He won a San Antonio Golden Gloves title, won the 1988 Western Olympic Trials and competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials. In 1994, Leija became only the third San Antono boxer to win a world title when he defeated the legendary Ghana warrior and Hall of Famer, Azumah Nelson, for the WBC World Super Featherweight Championship. ``Jesse'' James ultimately fought in nine world championship fights winning the IBA World Lightweight Championship, the NABF Featherweight Championship, and on two separate occasions, the NABF Lightweight Championship. After 17 years, Leija ended his professional career of 57 matches with a record of 47 wins, including 19 by knock-out, 7 losses, 2 draws, and 1 no-contest. All this despite having been told early on that he was too small and not strong enough to be a success in the ring. As impressive and admirable as his career was, James' dedication to his community is even more so. He founded the ``Jesse'' James Leija Youth Foundation, and has long supported the Boys' and Girls' Club of San Antonio and the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Boxing Program. He has also supported numerous education programs, including a child daycare center to allow teenage mothers to complete their education. Beyond being a great boxer, ``Jesse'' James Leija has been a truly great citizen, and we in San Antonio are lucky to have him. To the people of San Antonio ``Jesse'' James Leija is always a winner and he will forever be their Champion.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 418. The first thing is America will not sleep any more securely with the passage of this piece of legislation, as well intended as it may be, because I am not going to question the motives of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. But why do a useless thing? Why would the State legislatures, why would the State Governors, why would every Latino advocacy group come against this? Why would the National Council of Bishops here in the States come out against this? It is for various reasons. But they all acknowledge that there is not a conspiracy going on here to thwart the efforts at security by these groups. No one would accuse these individuals of that, because this does not do anything. It only burdens the State and does not get us anywhere. But more importantly, and I really believe this, this is an anti- immigrant bill in the guise of some sort of security consideration, which it does not further. And so we ask, who are these immigrants? I have a simple answer for all of us. Look in the mirror. That is who we are talking about. We all got here one way or another, some earlier than others. We are all immigrants. What this bill is really about is not bad people coming into this country to do bad things to this country. It is about preventing good people coming into this country to do good things.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from Houston. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that all of us from the Texas delegation on the Democratic side come to address the people's House. We did not want to make this dinner that we had tonight earlier a wake or anything that was sad; but the truth was that there was a great amount of sadness. And at the end, I think we all learned a great deal about the true strength and character of our Members that will not be joining us in swearing-in ceremonies next January 4. I will repeat their names again because I think it is appropriate that they be repeated often so that we all are reminded what public service is about. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sandlin), First Congressional District; the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), Second Congressional District of Texas; the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Lampson), the Ninth Congressional District; the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the 17th Congressional District; the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), the 24th Congressional District; the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bell), the 25th Congressional District; my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), the 28th Congressional District. These were true public servants. Tomorrow they will be casting their last vote. And of course they will have their Member's card and they will put it in the slot and they will be casting their vote. And all of those votes may not be the same because we are quite different, as my dear friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), was saying. We have different opinions. We come from different regions of this great State of Texas. But what motivates us all would be the cardinal rule of how we vote. What do we base it on? People sometimes do ask that. I think this is a great lesson I learned from my father who served for 37 years in this august body, as well as from the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt). The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) when I arrived here in 1999 was our minority leader. He said, if you really want to do the right thing, if you want to enjoy service in the House of Representatives, every vote that you take, it is a real simple formula. First you vote your conscience because those are your principles and your values and you must face yourself every morning and do the right thing. Secondly, vote your district because no one else represents your district. And lastly, vote your party. And the gentleman told me that that makes his job really hard as your leader because he is trying to keep us together. But thank God that that was our cardinal rule and that is what has guided us. The seven Members that are departing followed that rule day in and day out. It was their social conscience. It was their moral principles that guided them here every day, not as Democrats, not as Republicans, because like the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) said, that is the last factor, that is the last element that you take into consideration. But what were these individuals when they were serving here for so many years? They were public servants. And the way they looked at it was that every citizen, every citizen in their district was their boss, whether a Democrat or a Republican, whether they were registered to vote or not, whether they were old enough to vote or not, you represented the district. And that is what was important. And you always voted the best interests of your district. And it was a simple formula. But they also knew it was a higher calling. And that is what we lose here as an institution, men of high character and moral principles. I am going to quote now Senator Joe Lieberman in his book ``In Praise of Public Life'': ``Although public figures may face the same everyday pressures as the people we represent, we are not and should not be judged by the same standards. More should be expected of us. We are public officials, not private citizens. Everything we do can become public and, therefore, has serious consequences for the community. We are, whether we like it or not, role models. We have voluntarily entered a contract with the voters that is based on trust. If we violate that trust, our government, our democracy suffers. So the first question a public figure must always ask himself when making a decision about his personal behavior or actions or votes, about whether to take an opportunity is not just is it legal, but rather, is it right.'' These are shining examples of individuals that made hard choices, difficult choices, but really in the final analysis were quite simple because they did the right thing. So everyone that is listening to us tonight must wonder, well, if they were so great, why are they not coming back? Why were they not reelected? And I have my own theory, my own analysis of it. Not one of these gentlemen lost on the merits. Why they lost was really about form over substance. Someone said it earlier, the rules were changed in the middle of the game, unfairly and in a perverse fashion. None of these gentlemen lost because they were not the very best that we had out there. They lost because of manipulation. They lost because people thought they could appeal to the most base instincts of human nature, which many times is about unfairness and injustice and fear and insecurity by Members of this House. This is repeated every day, day in and day out in this country. It is just that at this point in time it was concentrated in the State of Texas. And we see the result of seven dedicated public officials that had so much to give and did give. And we are the losers for it. They did not lose. This Chamber lost; this country lost. They were casualties of a dangerous time. Of all things, I found a quote the other day and it is from a comedian. But it is not about comedy. And it was not about humor that he was writing about. He had time to reflect because he had a very serious thing that happened in his life, and that was that his wife had passed away. And he reflected on life and where society was today, and this is what George Carlin said: ``The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more but have less. We buy more but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge but less judgment, more experts yet more problems, more medicine but less wellness. We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We have learned how to make a living but not a life. We have added years to life not life to years.'' His observation is so applicable to what is happening in the political process in this country today. Again, I will say these seven men did not lose these elections, but rather truly were casualties of what is transpiring, what is encouraged and promoted by seven individuals in this country. This is not love of country. This is not patriotism. This is not citizenship. This is not responsible behavior. So the truth is, what should we do about it? Well, let us go back to the way things used to be where we are going to go ahead and we are going to have our good-faith disagreements. The truth really lies somewhere in the middle. Righteousness. The best answers do not reside on that side of the aisle, and they do not reside over here. They actually reside right here in the middle of the aisle, right here. The problem is we never go and talk right there in that aisle. That separates us. That is the greatest gulf in this great country, wider than the Grand Canyon because we have made it wider than the Grand Canyon. When winning is everything, it does not matter how you do it. What is happening? We are models. It is what Joe Lieberman was talking about. We are models to all citizens in this country, and do we let our citizens down and our country down? Of course we do. Let us stop defining ourselves by our differences. Let us come to the middle. Let us have a dialogue and a discourse. Let us not corrupt a political process, a legislative process, for political gain, be it Democrat or Republican. Because what happens here, great public servants, the very best this country has to offer will be the casualties and the victim of political greed and avarice. That is what we have tonight. It is a sad moment, way beyond the seven Texans that we lose. Sad moment for this body, sad moment for this country. I want to end my statements with my profound gratitude and appreciation for having known these seven individuals. I will continue to know them, and I have a sense that we will be sharing a swearing-in ceremony sometime in the future because things will right themselves. That is all part of human nature. We only let things get to a certain point of excess before we know that it is truly wrong. These are wonderful individuals, and on a personal side, the absolutely personal side, these are my friends. It is never, never a happy moment when we say good-bye to friends, and this is what we say here tonight and tomorrow after the final vote. There will be great sadness, but something tells me they will overcome the adversity of what transpired and will rise to greater heights because they are totally capable of doing it but for a better reason. Our country needs them. So to Max and to Jim and to Nick and Charlie and Martin and Chris and Ciro, we need you and we know that you will continue making your great contribution and making this country a greater one even better than the one that we live in today. Thank you for your service and all I can say is I look forward to your return.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4518, the Satellite Home Viewer Extension Reauthorization Act of 2004. I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner), the gentleman from Michigan (Ranking Member Dingell) and the gentleman from Michigan (Ranking Member Conyers) and the subcommittee chairmen and ranking members for their hard work on this piece of legislation. H.R. 4518 is a comprehensive, bipartisan bill crafted jointly by the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on the Judiciary that will preserve localism, protect consumer privacy and increase competition between cable and satellite companies. Local broadcasters play a vital role in providing to the communities they serve local news and weather, information on community events and entertainment. In 1999, Congress recognized the important role of local broadcasters when it last authorized this act. Specifically, the act requires satellite companies to offer in a nondiscriminatory manner all local broadcast signals once the satellite carriers begin offering local-into-local service in a market. This requirement, dubbed ``carry one, carry all,'' was the cornerstone of the act. Unfortunately, in several markets, one satellite company has refused to comply with this requirement. For several years, I have heard complaints from local Spanish language broadcasters that one particular satellite company has refused to carry Spanish language broadcasts on the same dish on which it carries the signals of the major television networks. In fact, in my own home State of Texas nine of the eleven stations bumped by that particular satellite company to a second dish are Spanish language stations. In these two-dish markets, customers do not receive all of the channels for which they have paid if they do not ask that particular company for the second dish. This is unfair to consumers, and it harms the viability of local broadcasters because fewer people are watching their channels. The negative effects of a two-dish practice are made even greater by a failure to inform many customers of a particular company of the need for a second dish. This practice is wrong. It undermines basic principles of localism by essentially giving Spanish language and other minority-themed stations a second-class status in their own home markets. I thank my colleagues for including language in this bill that would put an end to this two-dish practice within 1 year. Forcing satellite providers to carry all local broadcast signals on one dish will finally ensure the equal treatment of all broadcasters. Protecting the privacy of consumers who subscribe to satellite television is also very important. Although current law protects the privacy of persons who subscribe to cable television service, it does not protect those who subscribe to satellite service. I commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) in particular for seeing to it that this bill extends to satellite subscribers the same privacy protections in effect for cable subscribers. Finally, increasing competition between cable and satellite companies is an important goal of this act. Prior to the last reauthorization of the act, cable companies provided their customers with all of the local broadcast channels, but satellite companies were not permitted to do the same. Since Congress gave satellite companies the authority to provide local-into-local service in 1999, the number of subscribers to satellite has about doubled. This legislation before us today makes further important strides in increasing parity which should lead to greater competition between cable and satellite. Right now, cable television companies can provide their subscribers with signals that are significantly viewed in a local market. Satellite television providers have no such authority. H.R. 4518 would fix this inequity by permitting satellite carriers of those same significantly viewed signals. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill that preserves local broadcasting, protects the privacy of satellite television service subscribers, and will provide a more level playing field for satellite companies on which to compete against cable providers. I support these goals and urge all Members to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Just briefly again, Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that makes good business sense and is a good deal for the consumer, standing for the proposition those are not mutually exclusive concepts.

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time, and I thank my colleagues for their assistance in getting this piece of legislation to the floor, and I hope it will successfully pass with very little difficulty. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the legislation, of course, but I do want to remind individuals, and I will be quick, because I know it has been a long evening and people have a lot of business, but I think Judges Vela and Garza deserve 1 minute of praise and recognition. In 1961 when Judge Garza was first appointed, he was the first, as has already been pointed out, Mexican American Hispanic to be appointed to the Federal bench. It was the same year that my father was elected and he was the first Hispanic from Texas to have been elected to this House. At that time, it was such a great celebration for all of us, but the truth was, we knew that they were the first, but we did not know they were not going to be the last. Things have not turned out that way, thank God. But truly, to honor their legacies, I had the great benefit of being counseled and mentored and lectured to by both Judge Vela and Judge Garza when I was a State district judge in Texas, and I know the lessons that they imparted are still with me today, and they would reverberate today in this Chamber if they had an opportunity to meet with us, members of that other branch of government, the legislative branch, they would remind us of that incredible but very important balance and separation of powers. And their legacies will only be recognized and their contributions will only be recognized to the extent that the other two branches of government, the executive and the legislative, understand their service in the context of this wonderful, wonderful concept that we have here in the United States, in our democracy, three equal branches of government, checks and balances and separation of powers. So I know if they were here today, they would say, ``Charlie, let us do our job. Let us go ahead and review what needs to be reviewed.'' It is the collective wisdom of that branch of government that really gives this Nation great guidance, as well as the leadership in this House and the leadership in the White House. So to judges Vela and Garza, to their families, proper recognition tonight, but hopefully that in the future we honor their memory and their hard work by respecting the work that they did within the context of this wonderful framework called the United States of America.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my strong support for passage of S. 1301, the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act. I wish to thank Chairman Oxley, Senator DeWine, Senator Schumer, as well as Chairman Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers for their work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately video voyeurism has become a rapidly growing national problem. With the development of the Internet and miniature camera technology, anybody can now readily invade the privacy of another by secretly videotaping or photographing others and putting those compromising images on the Internet. We all regularly see pop up advertisements on the Internet for new miniature camera technology. Undoubtedly this technology is being used by many ``Peeping Toms'' to spy on others. It is time that Congress takes a stand against the growing misuse of these new technologies. S. 1301, the Video Voyeurism Act makes it illegal for anyone on federal property to capture an improper image of another under circumstances that clearly violates the privacy of that individual. It is my hope that this legislation will spur individual states to follow suit and update their criminal codes to ensure that their citizens are similarly protected from video voyeurism in areas under state jurisdiction. Mr. Speaker, every American has a fundamental right to privacy that should be protected from intentional, unwanted incursion. S. 1301, the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act takes an important step towards updating our nation's privacy protections for a new generation of video and camera technology. I support passage of this legislation.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring the House's attention to the important issue of election reform funding in H.R. 5025, the fiscal year 2005 appropriations bill for the Departments of Transportation and Treasury, and independent agencies. Late last year, the four members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission were finally confirmed and able to begin their work to provide election assistance grants and guidelines to the states. Since they assumed office and the Commission began its work in earnest, it has provided over $1.5 billion to the states to meet the requirements of the Help America vote Act (HAVA) for the development of innovative election technology, pilot programs to test election technology, and programs to promote youth involvement in elections. I am very pleased that in the past two years, we in Congress have provided most of the funds promised for implementing the Help America vote Act. There remains, however, an unpaid balance of $800 million. I am disappointed that this bill does not pay off that balance. While some may say that the funds we have already appropriated for election reform grants has not been spent, and therefore more funds are not necessary at this time, I would argue that now that we have a functioning EAC, we can expect the pace of grants provided to the states to increase sharply. I am very encouraged that this bill contains funding needed by the EAC to become fully operational. In particular, I support the bill's appropriation of $10 million for the EAC's operating expenses and $5 million for research authorized by HAVA. I hope that these funding provisions will receive wide support from my colleagues and remain intact as this bill works its way through the legislative process. The EAC is currently understaffed and stretched thin to fulfill its mission. With the funds provided by this bill, the EAC will be able to more quickly provide states with their election assistance grants, and fulfill other mandates of the Help America Vote Act. These are critical to restoring the trust in our elections that was so greatly damaged by the deficiencies in our electoral system exposed by the 2000 general election. One of the most important functions of the EAC that this bill will fund is the development of voting system guidelines that states are waiting for in order to make important decisions about which voting systems to acquire. These guidelines will be developed in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the technical Guidelines Development Committee, and will also result in a national program to test, certify, and decertify voting system. HAVA created many new requirements in election administration, and many states are looking toward the EAC for guidance on how to implement these requirements, such as provisional voting, voting information requirements, implementation of identification provisions, and implementation the statewide computerized voter registration databases. With the operating funds included in this bill, the EAC will be able to provide such guidance and states will in turn be able to appropriately spend the election assistance grants they have received so far. Other important EAC functions that this bill funds are audit and oversight responsibilities to ensure that states are appropriately administering their grants and submitting relevant reports required by HAVA. Finally, the EAC's research funds included in this bill will be used to study and report on best practices and other matters relevant to the effective administration of federal elections. In summary, Mr. Chairman, this bill provides the funding necessary to make the Election Assistance Commission an effective tool in helping states restore the public's confidence in our voting process. If we are to remain the world's greatest democracy, we cannot hesitate to make this investment.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for bringing this bill to the floor. I could go over all of Hippo's accomplishments, and I say ``Hippo'' with the greatest affection and respect. Few people ever referred to him by formal title because he would not have it. And if he were alive and we were honoring him in this fashion today, he would probably be a little humbled and embarrassed. Mr. Speaker, I will keep my remarks brief, but a man of the caliber and decency of Hippo Garcia deserves a couple of minutes to recognize his true contribution. Members have heard of his professional accomplishments, his sacrifices and contributions to the legal profession, to the city and the State and to this country, but I would like to bring out the human side of Hippo, that he was probably one of the most decent human beings one could ever meet. He was a mentor and second father to many young San Antonio lawyers. I had the privilege of practicing before him when he was a county court law judge, a State district court judge, and then he moved to the Federal level. Many of us sought counsel with Hippo, a brave and wise man. We all had our first trials in Hippo's court. My first nonjury trial, which I lost, my first jury trial, which I also lost, come to think of it; but somehow it was a learning experience for everyone. In the era of determinative sentences, mandatory guidelines, Hippo was an individual that still had a great deal of compassion and understanding and exercised that kind of discretion in such a responsible manner to make all of us proud. Many people say the last thing we want is a liberal activist judge. I am here to tell Members that Hippo Garcia was a liberal activist judge. And what I mean by that is, his rulings always exhibited a liberal dose of humanity and decency and compassion. He was an activist, no doubt, and that activism was in the pursuit of justice. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank everyone who made this possible. Of course, the building we are naming is right across from the Alamo, which is a fitting location, so that everyone that passes by there will always remember the great sacrifices of the defenders of the Alamo, and look up and see Hippo's name on the Federal Building and remember the great contributions of a great man by the name of Hipolito Garcia.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. It is a pleasure joining the gentleman on such an important topic. It may be late at night, as someone observed, but I think most American families, they are used to staying up late right before April 15. And as a matter of fact, people get extensions, so I think there will be other late nights because no one is going to go through 10,000 pages looking for the answer unless they have a lawyer or an accountant. The Democrats do not have a monopoly on this particular issue. What I do believe we have is a sincere interest in doing something about it. A very distinguished colleague of ours who happens to have a seat on the other side of the aisle recently stated, ``We have been here long enough. We had better deliver a simplified Tax Code. I think this should be a centerpiece of reform for congressional Republican candidates. Instead of tax cuts, we should be talking tax simplification.'' Now, those are words. They were in the majority. They could make it happen. But it is not happening. So wherein lies the problem? It is all talk. Let me read something to you which I have always found interesting. I cut this article out 2 years ago because I thought it was so incredibly demonstrative of plain words lacking real intention and action. We were looking at that time, or the administration was looking for a commissioner to head the Internal Revenue Service. They hired a firm, a head-hunting firm to proceed with the search. This was the ad. ``Our firm has been awarded the assignment by the Department of Treasury through Secretary O'Neill and a Presidential oversight board to identify possible candidates to become the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service. From this list the Secretary will recommend to the President individuals for his nomination to the United States Senate for confirmation.'' This is the part that I enjoy. ``The individual does not need to have any in-depth exposure to the tax system or code.'' They need not understand the problem. They need not understand the code. But what was the most important thing the administration was looking for? Here it is. ``As an appointee of the President, he or she is expected to fully support the President's position and his administration's position.'' You are going to get your marching orders from the administration, which means you are not going to simplify anything. I think someone said earlier tonight that the President may be viewing as his base those individuals that find aid and comfort in 10,000 pages of complex legislation, that does not inure to the benefit of the average American. Speakers before me pointed out I think a real basic tenet in our democracy. Everybody will do their own fair share, including the payment of taxes. According to the Treasury Department, actual corporate income tax revenues fell 36 percent from fiscal year 2000 to 2003, 3 years, 36 percent drop. From 1996 to 2000, 95 percent of corporations paid than less 5 percent of their income in taxes. From 1996 to 2000, 60 percent of U.S.-based corporations paid no corporate tax at all. Among large corporations, those with sales of more than $50 million or assets of at least $250 million, 33 to 45 percent paid no taxes. Do you know why? Therein, somewhere in those 10,000 pages, we allowed this to exist today. Warren Buffet declared, ``If class warfare is being waged in America, my class is clearly winning.'' This is not an anti-business message. The Democratic Party and the policies and agenda and philosophy is pro-business. All we can ask is that everyone carry an equal burden and make their equal contribution. That is not so unfair. That is as American as anything that exists in any political philosophy. The leader touched on what is happening within the IRS and how his hands are tied because of obviously fiscal constraints and policy. The IRS says that its number of corporate audits has declined because of the explosive growth in tax shelters which allow companies to take advantage of complex tax code provisions. In other words, the increasingly complex tax code has made it more difficult for the IRS to go after corporate tax evaders. In the meantime, middle class families remain open and increasing targets for the audits. To quote David Keating, of the conservative National Taxpayers Union, ``If we had simpler tax laws, it would be simpler for taxpayers to follow and simpler for the IRS to enforce and administer.'' I recognize we are running out of time, but to give my colleague a clear example of what we have contained in those 10,000 pages, unknown to most of the average taxpayers is section 179. What is section 179? I am going to read you from an article that appeared in the Washington Post on September 26, 2003. This is a sales representative for Hummer of Alaska. You know what Hummer is, the huge car. Allow me to introduce you to a fabulous opportunity, he writes in a prominent letter, a tax loophole so big you can drive a Hummer H2 through it. Imagine being able to purchase the number one large, luxury SUV in America today and receive a deduction for the entire purchase amount from your taxes this year. How is this possible, the salesman asks? Thanks to the Bush administration's recent economic stimulus package, small businesses and the self-employed are eligible to deduct the entire purchase cost of new equipment up to $100,000 the year of the purchase. Now, we need to remind our colleagues, these provisions are supposed to help farmers and small business owners buy equipment to transport merchandise and haul equipment. No matter. The letter continues: The Hummer H2 qualifies for this IRS section 179 deduction by its gross vehicle weight of over 6,000 pounds. Cars and medium-sized SUVs do not qualify for this deduction. If you are seriously considering acquisition of a new vehicle, step up to the vehicle that can take you where you want to be, financially and otherwise. It does not stop there, because I will tell my colleague, you can go out and buy a Porsche SUV for about $90,000, and it will qualify for section 179 in those 10,000 pages that some taxpayer gets to write off in that 1 year to drive that luxury vehicle. I do want to remind my colleagues that someone on the Democratic side has introduced legislation to correct that. It will never see the light of day because we are not in the majority. That is what we are talking about. We have already talked about the different tax breaks for families that they could figure out. Taxpayers overpay their taxes by an estimated $1 billion a year because they fail to claim itemized deductions. How many taxpayers actually go through the trouble of figuring the code out so they can itemize? About one-third of taxpayers who are eligible for the earned income tax credit which is designed to help the working poor fail to claim it because it is too complicated. It is so complicated that tax preparers are responsible for nearly 70 percent of the errors and overclaims on returns. The people that are supposed to know the business cannot figure it out. I will leave you with one thought. Time is money. Simplification does translate into savings and responsibility and sharing the tax burden equally. Time is money, and I say this to the American taxpayer. It is your time and it is your money, and you deserve a heck of a lot better treatment.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Laura Dominguez, a very special young woman whose life can teach us all about the power of perseverance and love. Laura is a bit quiet until you get to know her, but once you do, you find that she is smart, witty, and brave. You also learn of her loving family: her parents, Rosie and Abel, and her older brother Abel Aaron. In July 2001, Laura and her brother were driving home from summer school. There was an oil slick in the road that made the car uncontrollable. Laura broke her neck at the C-6 level, qualifying her as a quadriplegic. At that time, doctors told her that she would never walk again. Laura was undaunted by this prognosis. Ever since that day, Laura and her family have demonstrated an unbelievable amount of fortitude and perseverance. They have consulted with a number of spinal cord specialists with the hope of watching Laura walk again. Laura spent six months in St. Louis and one year in California so that she could receive the best treatment available. It was in California that the Dominguez family learned of a surgery being done in Portugal in which tissue from one's sinus area is transplanted into the spinal cord at the injury sight. In March 2003, Laura traveled to Portugal and became the tenth person in the world, and only the second American, to undergo this surgery. By July 2003, 70% of the lesion in Laura's spinal cord looked like normal spinal cord tissue. Since that phenomenal surgery, Laura has also regained feeling down to her hip level and she has begun to regain some feeling and movement in her legs. Now Laura, once seen as a lost cause by some members of the medical community, has regained her ability to stand with the use of a walker. Laura is in Washington, D.C., today to share her story, so that we may put a face to the abstract debates that occur in Congress regarding the benefits of stem cell research. Laura is also a living symbol of hope for the more than 200,000 people in the United States who are living with a spinal cord injury. Her story demonstrates the seemingly unattainable feats that can be accomplished when one has faith in oneself, and the unwavering love and support from family and friends. I wish Laura and her family many blessings as she continues to push her body and her mind to overcome her physical challenges.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Chairman, I think in any debate, whether it is this amendment or any other amendment, I do not think we should ever question any Member's commitment or dedication to the war on terror. The funding that is sought in this particular amendment will not jeopardize our effort on the war on terrorism, and I think we need to start off with that understanding so we remain focused on the true intent of this particular amendment, and that is the very lifeline or lifeblood to small businesses in securing loans. Small businesses already operate at great disadvantage. They do not get the same deductions as big corporations. They cannot go and establish their headquarters offshore and abroad to avoid paying taxes. This is all about the American dream. This is all about sweat and toil and commitment to this great capitalist system that makes this great democracy the great democracy that we have today. We will never support democracy without a strong economy. I look at this as the greatest investment we can possibly make. We have to remain focused on the true intent of this particular amendment. These will be loans that are being made because of the funding in the guarantee. These are loans that would not be made otherwise. This is not a subsidy to banks. It is about risk, and there is nothing wrong with taking risk into consideration. We make that accommodation which makes money and capital available to the small businesses, the very strength of our economy, which lends credence, which lends viability to this great democracy. This is what it is all about, and I would hope everyone in this Chamber when we vote today will support small businesses throughout this country.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 25, 26, and 27, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a very special woman, Mary Jessie Gonzalez Roque, known by her friends as ``Susie.'' Susie is a valued employee of mine who is retiring after thirty-three years of dedicated service to the federal government. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge this important milestone in her life, and to also express my appreciation for the impact she has made on the lives of the constituents of the 20th District of Texas. Susie's parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico before she was born so that they might have a piece of the American dream. They raised Susie, their first born, and her four siblings in San Antonio. Susie exhibited her value of education throughout her elementary, high school, and college careers. She parlayed this love of education and her skill of helping others into a job as a teacher at Burbank High School in San Antonio during the 1970-1971 academic year. In 1971, Susie obtained a summer job in the District Office of my father, former U.S. Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez. She was hired full- time to handle casework for the 20th District of Texas and her summer job turned into a thirty-three year career. Susie has expressed pride in working for my father, a notable figure in Texas and U.S. politics. He was celebrated in San Antonio as being a man who gave a voice to those who could not speak for themselves. Susie was vital to my father's efforts in this endeavor because she worked in close contact with people who could not navigate through the often convoluted systems of federal bureaucracies by themselves. I was blessed to be elected to represent the 20th District of Texas in 1998. Like my father before me, I recognize the value of providing good constituent services to those whom I represent. Therefore, I hired Susie to continue in her casework position so that she could continue to provide important services for constituents. Her many accomplishments led me to promote her to be my District Office Director. In the five and one-half years that Susie has worked for me, she has proven herself invaluable to me, my staff, and the constituents of the 20th District of Texas. She assists people with a wide variety of problems that they experience with federal government agencies, and sometime state and local agencies. These problems include, but are certainly not limited to, immigration cases, military matters, housing problems, health and social services inquiries, and federal workers compensation claims. I am sincerely proud to count myself among those who have had the opportunity to know and work with Susie. Her steadfast dedication to her job has had an impact on many individuals' lives. Also, her knowledge and skills have enabled those of us who have worked with her to do our jobs better. I wish her many blessings and the very best for her retirement. She will be greatly missed.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the retirement of Ruby Lehrmann, Chief United States Probation Officer for the Western District of Texas. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Ruby's long and prestigious career, as well as the countless contributions she has made to her community. Ruby's professional life reflects hard work, determination, and commitment that began during her college years at Sam Houston State University, where she earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in the field of Health Education. During her undergraduate studies, Ruby was a summer intern with the Goree Unit of the Texas Department of Corrections. Through this internship experience, Ruby began to lay the foundation for her impressive career. After obtaining her Master's degree, Ruby continued a steady climb up the ranks in the Texas Department of Corrections until she became Assistant Warden for the Goree Unit. In September of 1975, this remarkable woman became the first female U.S. Probation Officer for the Western District of Texas. She was then promoted to Deputy Chief United States Probation Officer in 1983 and was named Chief United States Probation Officer for the Western District of Texas in January of 1995. Throughout her admirable career, Ruby has always maintained her commitment to education. She has served as an adjunct professor for St. Mary's University and Our Lady of the Lake University. In this capacity, Ruby has shared her knowledge and experiences with others in order to help them achieve success as she has. She has also served as a co-chairman and mentor for Burnet Elementary school in the San Antonio Independent School District. Ruby's dauntless commitment to her community has been very impressive. She has contributed to San Antonio through volunteer service for many organizations, including the San Antonio Conservation Society and the United Way. In addition to these activities, Ruby is also deeply involved in her church, Concordia Lutheran. There, she has served on a number of committees and has been a coach and a Sunday School teacher. I deeply appreciate Ruby's many contributions to the Texas Department of Corrections, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and the city of San Antonio. Her dedication to her career and the humanitarianism she consistently exhibits in her community have made Ruby a role model for all of us. I am proud of Ruby's accomplishments and I wish her continued happiness and success upon her retirement.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 231, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 229 and 230, I was delayed due to inclement weather and was unable to attend. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall no. 153, 154, 155, I was not present due to inclement weather in Texas which delayed my arrival in Washington. Had I been present. I would have voted ``yea.''