Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time. I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1000 and in support of the Pension Fairness Act. As has been stated before, the collapse of WorldCom, Enron, Global Crossing, and other corporate abuses we have seen in the news has highlighted the need for critical pension reform to eliminate abuses and to protect workers. The Pension Fairness Act, the Democratic substitute, deals with meaningful reform and protections from abuse against workers. I would like to take the 1 minute to compare the Democratic substitute and H.R. 1000. The Democratic substitute gives workers the right to independent, unbiased investment advice. H.R. 1000 does not. In fact, it creates the opposite effect. The Democratic substitute provides workers with a voice in running defined contribution plans. H.R. 1000 leaves decision-making in the hands of corporate executives. The Democratic substitute gives workers notice when executives are selling company stocks. H.R. 1000 does not. The Democratic substitute protects older workers when a company converts from traditional pension plans to a cash balance plan. H.R. 1000 does not. The Democratic substitute requires that executive pensions be subject to the same pension rules as rank-and-file workers. H.R. 1000 offers no such fairness. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1000 is unfair and destined for abuse and conflict and offers no protections or security to workers. The Pension Fairness Act, the Democratic substitute, is fair, just, and destined for real reform and protection and security for the workers. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the Democratic substitute and a ``no'' vote on H.R. 1000.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for the opportunity to come and speak today. It is my honor to rise today in this House to acknowledge the birth date of Cesar Chavez. Yesterday would have been his 76th birthday. Cesar Chavez, cofounder, along with Dolores Huerta, of the United Farm Workers' Union, led a historic struggle to give voice to the voiceless and empower the poor and powerless, inspiring a people beyond the limits and barriers that had been artificially placed before them. Cesar Chavez was born and died in the district that I represent, in Yuma and San Luis, Arizona. It is vital that all Americans acknowledge the profound contributions that Cesar Chavez has made to our country. These contributions were not in the form of money, false praise, or the trappings of power. He reinforced the values of this Nation, values such as commitment and of purpose and strength of cause. Allow me, Mr. Speaker, to quote directly from Cesar Chavez: ``In this world, it is possible to achieve great material wealth, to live an opulent life. But a life built upon those things alone leaves a shallow legacy. In the end, we will be judged by other standards.'' Another value that Cesar imparted and reinforced for our country is the value of struggle and perseverance. Again let me quote Cesar Chavez: ``When we are really honest to ourselves, we must admit that our lives are all that really belong to us, so it is how we use our lives that determines what kind of men we are. It is my deepest belief that only by giving life do we find life, that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice. To be a man or woman is to suffer for others. God help us be men and women.'' But the legacy of Cesar Chavez is a legacy of change that he brought to this country, and we are all obligated in our own way to continue and finish a change that sought equality for all people and the opportunity to live without the yokes of poverty, racism and the domination of others. It is time that this great Nation formally declares support for Cesar Chavez through a holiday, a holiday that celebrates nonviolence, the rights of all workers and the strong spirit of all people to overcome. I am proud that in my community where I formerly served as a county supervisor we have a paid holiday for the employees, we have a livable wage for employees as an acknowledgment to the struggles and as an acknowledgment to the goals of Cesar Chavez. In this country, we face tough times, war, peace, our Nation's obligation to the poor and underrepresented in this country. These are issues that this Congress struggles with on a daily basis. But let me speak for a second on one issue that intertwines what we are facing today in Iraq and what we are facing today on the question of immigration in this country. Even in this Chamber, we hear the shrill anti-immigrant babblings that Cesar Chavez fought so hard against his entire life. I want to pause and read a letter to the editor that appeared in our local newspaper, the Arizona Daily Star, today. The letter starts ``Truly Ironic.'' It is in reference to a March 26 article entitled ``Immigrant Marine Pledged His Life as a Matter of Honor.'' The gentleman who wrote this letter goes on to say: ``I found this story truly interesting. Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez from Guatemala was an illegal immigrant, or criminal as the haters and vigilantes would call him, who instead of dying in the Arizona desert was able to find a foster family, go to school in America, then die in the Iraqi desert protecting these haters' and vigilantes' right to keep on hating the so-called illegals.'' Mr. Dennis Jones from Kearny, Arizona, wrote that letter. I think it fits well to the times, and it fits well to the dilemmas that this Congress must face and resolve. By recognizing Cesar Chavez, we recognize ourselves. We extend to ourselves all the traditions and the realities of the faces in this country. Chavez once said, ``It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere, but God did not promise us that this world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity.'' In this time when we anguish about the future and confront the present struggles, it is indeed a fitting time to pause and recommit ourselves to the legacy and the challenge that Cesar Chavez has given us, a legacy of hope, compassion and fairness, and a challenge before this Congress to act to help the people of this country, to act to stabilize our world, to act to assure that opportunity and fairness still is and will continue to be one of the cornerstone traditions of this country. It has indeed been a pleasure for me to make these comments about someone who influenced my life, and I will be very frank. His motivation, his spirit, his tenacity to lead people that were never represented is a legacy and a tradition that should be part of the history of this country. It is indeed my pleasure.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today to add my comments to the chorus of dismay and opposition to the proposed cuts in veteran programs and benefits that we are currently hearing about in this country proposed by the President and approved by the Republican majority of this House. Many families in my district have sons and daughters, husbands and wives, family members, that are in the military and in this current conflict that this country finds itself in. Presently I have the responsibility to communicate to some of these families about the death, the serious life-threatening injuries and the missing-in-action status of some of their family members. I relate to them my personal respect, gratitude and sorrow at their anguish and at their sacrifice. Yet, while I am doing that, I find it unconscionable that while our men and women are fighting overseas, following the orders of their Commander-in-Chief, we at home are reducing the health care benefits that our veterans have earned while risking and giving their lives in the service of this country, in the protection of our freedoms and in the extension of the liberties that we all enjoy. How can we possibly justify the budget as passed by this House that contains almost $29 billion in cuts in veterans' programs over a 10 year period, primarily in veterans benefits and health care. What are we going to tell the men and women presently in uniform and their families; that their service is honorable, needed, and respected, but not worth the cost of full benefits for them and their future? Mr. Speaker, today I would urge all of my colleagues to restore and enhance the benefits and programs that have been earned by our veterans and cut by the President and this Congress. To do otherwise would be an appalling betrayal of America's commitments to our veterans. At a time of war, let us not be hypocritical. Let us respect and enhance the benefits of our veterans, so as they sacrifice for us, as they follow the orders of their Commander-in-Chief, they will earn not only our respect, but entitlement to benefits and protection of programs that will extend and support their quality of life.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 43, I was in committee mtg. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''