Rubén Hinojosa

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 720, the ``Water Quality Financing Act of 2007.'' As we all know, H.R. 720 will reauthorize the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and provide $14 billion in funding for the program over the next four years. The bill provides technical assistance to rural and small municipalities for the purpose of assisting them in the planning, developing, and acquisition of financing for wastewater infrastructure assistance. The bill also provides technical assistance and training for rural and small publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems to enable such treatment works and systems to protect water quality and achieve and maintain compliance with the bill's requirements. Equally important, the bill will disseminate information to rural and small municipalities and municipalities that meet the affordability criteria established under section 603(i)(2) by the State in which the municipality is located with respect to planning, design, construction, and operation of publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems. With 20 percent of the country's population living in rural communities, it's critical that we address their infrastructure needs including access to clean water, working sewers, electricity, and other necessities. For more than a decade, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund has been integral to State's and localities in their effort to deal with critical clean water infrastructure needs. As a community, our progress must be judged not by the status of our most fortunate members of society, but by that of our most challenged members. That is why I am committed to fighting for the resources needed to ensure a better standard of living for all Colonia residents, why I voted in favor of H.R. 720, and why I co-founded and currently am Chairman of the Congressional Rural Housing Caucus. I founded the Congressional Rural Housing Caucus to advocate for legislation and policy changes that: expand the availability of safe and affordable housing--both for purchase and for rental--in Rural America; eliminate substandard housing in Rural America; and especially to address the infrastructure needs of Rural America, including providing access to clean water, working sewers, electricity, and other necessities. This bill is an important step toward meeting the goals of the Congressional Rural Housing Caucus. There are more than 350,000 people who struggle in the unacceptable living conditions of the Colonias every day. Many Colonias do not have sewer systems. Instead, residents must rely on alternative, often inadequate wastewater disposal methods. Surveys of Colonias in El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley show that 50.7 percent of the households use septic tanks, 36.4 percent use cesspools, 7.4 percent use outhouses, and 5.5 percent use other means to dispose of wastewater. Septic tank systems, which in some circumstances may provide adequate wastewater disposal, often pose problems because they are too small or improperly installed and can overflow. Even if the colonias had adequate sewer systems, the border area lacks sufficient facilities to treat wastewater. According to a summary report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wastewater treatment capacity along the U.S.-Mexico border has been inadequate for the past decade. In many places, there are no treatment facilities at all. Consequently, border communities often discharge untreated or inadequately treated wastewater into rivers, canals and arroyos (a creek or stream), which then flow into the Gulf of Mexico. In the Nuevo Laredo/Laredo area alone, 27 million gallons of untreated waste-water are discharged directly into the Rio Grande each day, contributing to ecological and aesthetic degradation, economic loss and threats to public health. Securing potable water also presents a challenge to Colonia residents. Many must buy water by the bucket or drum to meet their daily needs or use wells that may be contaminated. According to The Colonias Factbook, a Texas Department of Human Services survey of living conditions in rural areas of South and West Texas border counties, 23.7 percent of the households did not have treated water in the house. Because of this, the survey found, untreated water was used by 12.8 percent of households to wash dishes, 13.1 percent to wash clothes, 12.3 percent to bathe and 4.9 percent to cook. A 1995 Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) study estimates that 428 colonias with about 81,000 people are in need of potable water facilities, and 1,195 colonias with about 232,000 people need wastewater treatment facilities. The TWDB estimates it would cost more than $424 million to build the water and wastewater facilities needed in the 23 counties surveyed. In my district, these issues are increased by the low-incomes and housing quality problems suffered by my constituents. According to the 2000 Census, the median income for persons living in the 15th district was $26,840. There are more than 7,500 households that lack complete plumbing facilities. Crowding is a problem as more than 15 percent of all occupied housing units are crowded (i.e., more than one person per room). The battle to improve every Colonia in South Texas will require enormous resources and support from program partners, community residents, and especially the Federal Government. This is a battle we must win, and I know we will win. The problems in the Colonias are not just the Colonias' problems, but they are the State's problems they are the Nation's problems--and they are our problems. Passage of today's legislation will go a long way toward improving the quality of life of residents of the Colonias and towards attaining the goals of the Congressional Rural Housing Caucus. Rest assured that I will continue to fight for legislation, regulations and programs that understand the needs of Colonia and all rural residents. I will fight to fund programs that educate Colonia residents and empower them with the tools needed to live not for today, but for every day. Where there is a will, there is a way. And as we say in my district and around the world--Si Se Puede!

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise in proud support of H.R. 584, a bill to re-name the Department of Education Building after a great Texan and a great American, Lyndon Baines Johnson. I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, Gene Green for bringing this bill to us. Today, we aspire to fulfill the vision of the Great Society that President Johnson envisioned for this Nation--in his words--a place where the meaning of man's life matches the marvels of man's labor. Early on in his life, President Johnson was exposed to the unacceptable inequities in our Nation's education system. As a teacher and a principal in Cotula, TX, President Johnson worked with impoverished Hispanic students for whom the dream of pursuing higher education was all but out of reach. He saw a nation failing to live up to its potential because it failed to develop the talents of its low- income and minority citizens. He vowed not to rest until America's opportunities were open and accessible to everyone. It is a fitting tribute to name the Department of Education headquarters after the President who brought us the Head Start Program, the Higher Education Act and student financial aid, as well as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which today we know as the No Child Left Behind Act. Under his watch, our Nation made a commitment to education so that opportunity and success would no longer be determined by family wealth or the color of one's skin. President Johnson was a visionary and a patriot. For me, a member of the Education and Labor Committee, he was a hero. I urge all my colleges to support H.R. 584.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 42 offered by my colleague and neighbor Congressman Solomon Ortiz. Governor Ann Richards was a woman of incomparable spirit, wit, intelligence, and heart. She was a trailblazer who opened the world of public service and politics to women and minorities in her beloved home state of Texas, as well as throughout the country. I remember her most for her commitment to my constituents in South Texas. In 1993, Governor Richards signed the bill to create South Texas Community College, now South Texas College. Without Governor Richards' direct insight and involvement in granting us a three year waiver in not requiring a taxing district, the creation of the school simply would not have been possible. Today, the college, with 17,000 students, is responsible for contributing to our local economy through workforce and job training programs, has directly contributed to the drop in the region's unemployment rate, and extends education opportunities for so many students. She also helped to streamline the state's government and helped create programs and opportunities for Texas' economy to flourish at a time when the country's languished. It is incumbent upon all of US to continue the legacy started by Ann Richards decades ago. We need to lend voice to the disadvantaged and disenfranchised; give americans a leg-up, not a hand-out; and, create opportunities for all to participate in their government. It is a legacy she was proud of, and one I will not forget. She will be missed by so many, and especially by me. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation honoring such a great lady.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Chairman Miller and Ranking Members McKeon and Keller in cosponsoring the Pell Grant Equity Act. I would like to thank them for their leadership in bringing this bill forward without delay. Currently low-income students who attend low-cost institutions have their Pell Grants reduced because of the provision called ``tuition sensitivity'' in current law. It is contrary to common sense and our shared goals of providing access to higher education for low-income students to systematically reduce the grant aid for the neediest students who often attend low-cost institutions because they are more affordable. According to the Congressional Research Service, our action today will benefit 96,000 low-income students and increase their Pell grant by an average of $108. When you are a low-income student, every penny counts and this increase will make a real difference. The colleges in my congressional district serve some of the lowest income students and families in the Nation. They work very hard to keep tuition low and limit increases to a minimum. This legislation will ensure that their efforts to contain costs are not undone by aid policy that reduces the Pell Grant because the institution charges low tuition. The Pell Grant Equity Act will immediately lift tuition sensitivity for the upcoming academic year. As we move towards the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, we will make this repeal permanent and put all low-income students on an equal footing in the Pell grant program. I look forward to continuing this spirit of bipartisanship as we consider the rest of the Higher Education Act and thank my colleagues for treating this issue with the sense of urgency it deserves. I strongly encourage all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 63. The State of Texas has a proud history of military service. Thousands of Texans have fought with distinction in every conflict this country has entered. Hundreds of my constituents are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are willing to leave behind their families and friends to risk their lives in service to their country. Many will never return home. Many will come home maimed and injured. I want to read the names of the young people from the 15th District of Texas who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan: Darrell Shipp, Benito Ramirez, Javier Marin, Julio Alvarez, Gary Moore, Tomas Garces, Mark Anthony Zapata, Juan Calderon, Christopher Ramirez, Dustin Sekula, Juan Garza, James Kesinger, Mitchell Mutz, John Russell, Quinton Gertson, Christopher Kilpatrick, Tina Priest, and Daniel Galvan. I know how much their families and friends have grieved at their loss. I have spoken to their parents and spouses and have attended many of their funerals. We are all so very proud of their military service and know they did their very best. However, as an elected Representative of the United States Government, I have a responsibility to make sure that the sacrifices of these brave men and women were not in vain. I have a responsibility to see that more Americans will not be sacrificed unnecessarily. I have supported the funding to give our military the body armor, the equipment and training they need, and I will continue to see that they have whatever they need. But I will not support an administration policy that puts more troops in harm's way, with no apparent end in sight and with no clear goals on how to win the fight. In 2002, I stood in this well and I spoke on that resolution giving the President permission to go to war, and I voted against going to war with Iraq because I didn't believe we had all the information we needed on Iraq's nuclear capabilities and weapons of mass destruction and its support for terrorism. I was concerned that the President had not convinced the 39 countries who had supported us in the previous war with Iraq. I was disappointed that the President did not have an exit plan after we defeated Iraq. And I was disappointed that the President would not put in the budget what we were going to spend on that war. No one denies that Saddam Hussein was a cruel dictator who brutally oppressed his people, and I am glad that the Iraqis are free of this tyranny. But the Bush administration did not have accurate information then, and I don't believe they have an accurate picture of the situation today. Our troops are now caught in the middle of a civil war between religious groups that have hated each other for centuries. There is no defined enemy and no clear battle lines. The task of imposing and growing democracy in a place where it has never been is not the job of our military. It must come from the political will of the Iraqi people. Only the Iraqis can decide whether they want to put aside centuries of discord and come together to create a stable, democratic country where the rights of every group is recognized. The Iraqi Government must take responsibility for its own future. After more than 4 years, the U.S. is not safer because of our efforts in Iraq. By dividing our resources, we have allowed the Taliban to reemerge in Afghanistan and have given al Qaeda a strong foothold that it never had before in Iraq. Syria and Iran have gained influence throughout the entire region. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars at the expense of critical programs at home like education, health care and homeland security. Our military is severely strained with troops on their third and fourth tours of Iraq. Units are being deployed, either understaffed or with new personnel, that has decreased unit cohesiveness, proficiency and morale. Equipment is worn out and our readiness to deal with an additional crisis is in jeopardy. Unfortunately, most of his generals disagree. The distinguished members of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group disagree, and more importantly, the American people disagree. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 63 and opposing the President's decision to send more troops to Iraq. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars at the expense of critical programs at home like education, health care and Homeland Security. Our military is severely strained with troops on their third and fourth tours of Iraq. Units are being deployed either understaffed or with new personnel that has decreased unit cohesiveness, proficiency, and morale. Equipment is worn out and our readiness to deal with an additional crisis is in jeopardy.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. I thank my friend and colleague, Jim Matheson, for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 94, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Consumer Protection Week. I introduced this resolution with my good friend, Congresswoman Judy Biggert, a few weeks ago. And I want to thank Majority Leader Hoyer for bringing the resolution to the floor in such a timely manner. Mr. Speaker, in addition I want to take a moment to take this opportunity to thank the leadership on Energy and Commerce for moving this resolution through their committee quickly after a thorough review by committee staff, especially Consuela Washington, Pete Goodloe, and Brian McCullough. I also want to thank legislative counsel, Brady Young, and Harry Savage for facilitating passage of this important resolution. Congresswoman Judy Biggert and I have been collaborating for years on financial literacy, and together we strive to provide consumers with the information they need to make appropriate decisions. As cofounders and cochairs of the Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus, we will continue to reach out to the States, the local government, private sector, nonprofits and community-based organizations to improve financial literacy rates across the United States, which has become extremely important in light of the negative savings rate in the United States. I am pleased that my staff and Zach Cikanek on Congresswoman Biggert's staff have jump-started our caucus so early this year, and I look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership. I encourage all of those Members of Congress watching us today to join the Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus to help your constituents help protect themselves from fraud and identity theft. To join, all you need to do is contact my office or the office of Congresswoman Biggert. For the past 8 years, local, State and Federal government agencies and national consumer advocacy organizations have worked together to provide as much protection as possible to consumers during what has been deemed National Consumer Protection Week. They have all recognized the important role public and private organizations play in ensuring that the American consumer is protected from unfair practices. This week we here in Congress will finally join these organizations in supporting the goals and ideals of the ninth annual National Consumer Protection Week, which falls between February 4 and February 10 of this year. I am pleased to inform my colleagues that this year's theme is ``Read up, reach out and be an informed consumer.'' This week will highlight consumer education efforts in the fight against fraud in communities across our Nation. By gathering and sharing information, consumers and their friends and families can be more confident, savvy and safe in the marketplace. During this week, consumer protection partner organizations will provide practical and tactical tips so consumers can learn and teach others how to make well-informed purchase decisions, avoid scams, protect their personal information, and file a complaint. Consumers can research and boost their marketplace IQ by accessing data at the National Consumer Protection Week section of the www.consumer.gov Web site. Some of the organizations that will participate in this week's activities include the Better Business Bureau, the Consumer Federation of America, the FDIC, and of course the Federal Trade Commission. On Thursday of this week, February 8, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission, the FDIC and several other consumer-oriented government agencies will host a consumer protection fair for Capitol Hill staff as well as Members of Congress. The fair will be held in room 1302 Longworth beginning at 9 a.m. and running until noon. Again, the fair will be held in room 1302 Longworth House Office Building, February 8, from 9 a.m. until noon. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this fair, orchestrated by the FTC and Derick Rill, its congressional liaison, will provide the materials our staff needs to teach our constituents how to prevent themselves from becoming victims of fraud and identity theft and will help improve their overall financial literacy. Again, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this resolution that will benefit consumers across America.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. I want to thank Chairman Miller for yielding time and for bringing the bill to the House floor. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of H.R. 5, the College Student Debt Relief Act of 2007. Last year, the 109th Congress cut $12 billion from the student loan programs. These savings were not reinvested in helping low- and moderate-income families send their children to college. Instead, the $12 billion from the student loan program was used to underwrite the irresponsible deficit spending generated by the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Those cuts severely hampered our Nation's ability to close the college access gap for Hispanics and other low- and moderate-income students. The 110th Congress has a new set of priorities. H.R. 5 will cut in half the interest on subsidized student loans by the year 2011. This legislation will save average borrowers $4,400 over the life of the loan. The student loan programs have become an important piece of the access puzzle for Hispanic families. This interest rate reduction is part of the solution. Hispanic students borrow less on average than other groups. The reluctance to assume debt that could be difficult to repay has pushed many Hispanic students into attendance patterns that jeopardize their ability to persist until graduation. Nevertheless, according to the report, ``How Latino Students Pay for College, Excelencia in Education,'' the average loan amounts exceeded the average grant amounts by more than $1,800. It is of critical importance to the Hispanic community that we provide assurances to borrowers that there are protections to help them meet their student loan obligations. We are committed to addressing the other pieces of the access and affordability puzzle as well. We will move forward to ensure that academic preparation is no longer a missing piece of the puzzle. The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance estimates that in 2003 more than 400,000 college-qualified low-income students did not enroll in a 4-year college and 170,000 did not enroll in any college at all because of financial barriers. We here in the 110th will right a wrong and place savings from the student loan program where they belong, with our low- and middle-income students. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this down payment on college access and affordability and to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2. I am proud that 110th Congress has made giving America's lowest-paid workers a raise one of its first legislative actions. It is long overdue. Many families work hard but struggle with low wages. It is unconscionable that in America we have millions of people working full time and year round and still living in poverty. At $5.15 an hour, a full-time minimum wage worker brings home $10,700 a year, nearly $6,000 below the poverty level for a family of three. An average Fortune 500 CEO earns more before lunchtime than a minimum wage worker makes all year. American families have seen the real income drop by almost $1,300 since 2000, while the costs of gasoline, heating fuel, and health care have soared. For families living on minimum wage, this means a greater struggle to put food on the table and pay the rent. Minimum wage families struggle with the cost of daycare and health care. They struggle to provide a sound education for their children, and for many college is a dream beyond their reach. Today, we are doing something to ease that struggle. Raising the minimum wage is a first step and a clear signal that we in Congress will do something. Raising the Federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour will add $4,400 to the income of full-time year- round workers, enough for a low-income family of three to afford a year of groceries. Mr. Speaker, it has been 10 years since our lowest-paid workers got a raise. In intervening years we in this body have seen many pay raises. Americans in the top income brackets have seen their earnings soar. On top of that, they have been the biggest beneficiaries of generous tax cuts. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 973, recognizing ``Financial Planning Week,'' October 2nd through the 8th of this year. I was very pleased that my colleague and good friend from Illinois, Congresswoman Judy Biggert, joined me in introducing this important and timely resolution. I want to take this opportunity to thank Congresswoman Biggert, Congressman Kanjorski and his staff, Congresswoman Maloney and her staff, Tania Shand with Government Reform, and Jerry Hartz and Catlin O'Neill with the Minority Leader's office for the assistance they provided me in bringing this resolution to the floor today. As Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus, I decided to introduce this resolution to place the spotlight on yet another important piece of the financial and economic literacy puzzle that we must all put together during our lives: financial planning. Financial planning plays a key role in meeting the goal of the Caucus to improve financial literacy rates for individuals during all stages of their lives. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I ask unanimous consent to insert into the record the following letters in support of H. Res. 973: letters from the Financial Planning Association, the Financial Services Roundtable, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Cross Financial Services Corporation, MasterCard and Citigroup. Despite daily challenges of balancing work, family, and personal matters, it's important--now more than ever--that all Americans take time to increase their financial knowledge and plan for a secure future. Like most people, we all have hopes and dreams and life goals for ourselves and our families. These might include buying a home or business . . . saving for college education for our children . . . taking a dream vacation . . . reducing taxes . . . or retiring comfortably. Managing your personal finances is ultimately your responsibility. However, you don't have to do it alone. There are community centers, non-profits, community-based organizations, financial counseling organizations as well as private sector financial groups and associations that can help you make decisions that make the most of your financial resources. Certified Financial Planners are among those groups. This advice is available in many languages. All these entities can help you set realistic financial and personal goals. They can assess your current financial health by examining your assets, liabilities, income, insurance, taxes, investments and estate plan. These same groups can help you develop a realistic, comprehensive plan to meet your financial goals by addressing financial weaknesses and building on financial strengths. They can help you put your plan into action and monitor its progress. Furthermore, they can help you stay on track to meet changing goals. . . changing personal circumstances. . . changing stages of your life. . . changing products, markets and tax laws. Research has shown that people with a financial plan tend to save more money, feel better about their progress, and make more appropriate decisions--no matter what their income. Moreover, a written financial plan is far more effective than a mental one. Seeing your plan in writing helps to remind you about what actions are necessary to reach your goals, and it helps you to check your progress more easily than relying on memory alone. Following the financial plan is the biggest challenge for most people. The pay-off for meeting this challenge will be increased family financial security and satisfaction. Many people are amazed to see how much of their money is spent on take-out lunches, morning coffees, and other expenses that can add up over time. It is up to all of us to decide whether these ``extras'' are really worth the trade- off. Are these everyday ``extras'' worth giving up money for current expenses and future goals? The reality is that your everyday spending decisions have a greater impact on your long-term financial well-being than all of your investment decisions combined. Next week, I hope that all of you will focus on mapping out your financial future. I would like to commend the financial planners who will be volunteering their services on October 4th, financial planning day in room 430 of Senate Dirksen Office Building from noon to 3pm. Over a dozen financial planners will be available to answer any financial questions from you or your staff. More than likely, just your staff will be able to attend the event, but I encourage them to do so. Mr. Speaker, if there is one thing I would like my colleagues and the public to understand today is that it is never too late to take control of your finances. Whether you are a youth learning the fundamentals of savings and checking or an older person concerned that you haven't planned for your golden years, it is never too late to start. So, why not start today! Again, I rise in strong support of this resolution and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it. The Financial Planning Association, Washington, DC, September 8, 2006. Hon. Ruben Hinojosa, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Hinojosa: As the leading membership organization for the financial planning community, the Financial Planning Association (FPA) would like to thank you for introducing H.R. 973, in recognition of Financial Planning Week. This resolution will help expand our goal of increasing financial literacy and as a result, help the national savings rate. In a few weeks, our efforts to promote the benefits of wise personal financial planning will be extended to Capitol Hill. We would like to personally invite you to attend our sixth annual Financial Planning Day on Capitol Hill on October 4, in the Senate Dirksen Building, room 430, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Over a dozen financial planners will be available to answer any financial questions from you or your staff. I would also like to use that opportunity to personally express my gratitude for your efforts in support of sound financial planning for all Americans. FPA connects those who need, support and deliver financial planning. Our 28,000 members work with a variety of clients, including individuals and small businesses, to support and deliver objective financial planning advice from a competent, ethical financial planner. Our members demonstrate and support a professional commitment to education and a client- centered financial planning process. Sincerely, Daniel B. Moisand, President, FPA.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In conclusion, I want to say that it was a pleasure to work with our chairman, Mr. Buck McKeon, and with our ranking member, George Miller, on this legislation. I appreciate all of the effort that they made so that we wound up with an excellent piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6197, the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation addresses one of the top priorities of the aging community, as articulated in last December's White House Conference on Aging: the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. I would like to commend the staff on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol for their diligent work to get this bill ready for our consideration. It took a great deal of patience and perseverance. I would especially like to commend the efforts of Kate Houston on the majority side for all of her hard work and service to this committee. On this side of the aisle, I would especially like to thank Ricardo Martinez for his work in keeping the process moving forward. Aging is a fact of life. However, through the establishment of Social Security, Medicare, and the enactment of the Older Americans Act, living in poverty no longer is a fact of aging. From 1959 to 2002, the percentage of older people living in poverty fell from 35 percent down to 10 percent. The Older Americans Act of 1965 is the landmark legislation that articulated our core values as a Nation. The act begins with a declaration of objectives which includes the following: ``Retirement in health, honor, dignity, after years of contribution to the economy.'' This is a statement of our national obligation to older Americans. The Older Americans Act represents our commitment to meeting that obligation. This law provides for supportive services, such as transportation, housekeeping, and personal care. It provides nutrition services both in the home and in community settings. It provides preventive health services and supports family caregivers. Finally, it protects the rights of vulnerable older Americans by combating consumer fraud and protecting seniors from abuse. The bill before us reauthorizes all of the core programs in the Older Americans Act. It promotes greater access to services for individuals who are more comfortable in a language other than English. It maintains the structure of the Senior Community Service Employment program and reaffirms the dual purpose of the program's employment and community service. It provides for greater flexibility to provide additional training to hard-to-serve populations to improve their employment outcomes. It strengthens the very successful family caregivers program. It provides greater choices in health nutrition education so that our seniors can remain at home and in their communities. It promotes financial literacy for family caregivers and seniors so that older Americans' physical and mental health is not jeopardized by poor financial health. It strengthens our system of protecting older Americans from abuse. Finally, it recognizes that seniors are a growing resource for the aging network and for our communities in general. We must continue to look for ways to leverage our older citizens' talents and desires to continue to make a difference. This legislation has the support of the aging community. More than anything else, they are asking us to complete this work before we leave town in the next few days. Today, we move one step closer to this goal. It is my hope that once we send this legislation to the President for his signature, we will not relegate the Older Americans Act to the back burner. I hope that our resources will match our rhetoric and the policy goals laid out in this legislation. As we have worked in a bipartisan manner to craft a reauthorization bill, I hope that as we move forward with the appropriations process, when we return after the elections, we will remember that the Older Americans Act programs are cost effective. We know that every dollar spent providing a meal or supporting seniors so that they can remain at home and in their communities not only improves their quality of life but saves entitlement spending on long-term care. Mr. Speaker, that is the genius of the Older Americans Act. It is incumbent upon all of us to step up and invest in these programs. It has been a pleasure working with my friend and colleague, the chairman of our Select Education Committee, Pat Tiberi from Ohio. He is fair and listens and is willing to find a way to make things work, as we found in this legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation. It is something we can be proud of. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I wish to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), who serves on the Education Committee and the Government Reform Committee and is a valued and very important member of our committee.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 6138, the third extension of the Higher Education Act. Although I would prefer that we would consider a conference report to complete the reauthorozation of the Higher Education Act. I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member for working with me and the Congerssional Hispanic Caucus to include two amendents of critical importance to Hispanic-serving institutions. One amendment would eliminated the 2-year wait out period that interrupts HSI's ability to benefit from the title V Developing Institutions grants. The second amendment will finally put an end to the so-called ``50 Percent Rule'' that became an intrusive requirement mandating that Hispanic-serving institutions collect and report to the Department of Education individual information on family income and family size for every Hispanic student on campus in order to demonstrate that 50 percent of the Hispanic student enrollment meets the definiation of low income. HSIs already are required to demonstrate that they have a high population of needy students as measured by eligibility for need-based student aid. The 50 percent rule added nothing to the targeting of funds to those with greatest need and only created an administrative nightmare that was a disincentive to participation in the title V program. The 2-year wait out period and the 50 percent rule have been barriers that have been harmful to the HSI program to the detriment of the institutions and the students they serve. It is high time that we remove these barriers and I am pleased that we will not make our community wait until reatuhorization is complete to move forward. I, along with my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, have been working for over 4 years to remove these barriers. At the beginnin of this Congress, we introducated H.R. 761, the Next Generation Hispanic Serving Institutions Act. This legislation included both of these amendments for HSIs. Our bill also included provisions to establish a long overdue graduate program for HSIs. With the passage of H.R. 6138, we will be two thirds of the way toward our goal. It is my hope that we can complete the job before the 109th Congess adjourns. Again, I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member as well as my good friend from New Mexico in the other body for working with us to improve the HSI program. These are very important amendments. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6138.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2322 which would designate the Federal building at 320 North Main Street in McAllen, Texas as the ``Kika de la Garza Federal Building.'' I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Lloyd Doggett for his efforts in bringing this measure forward. I am proud to represent the district that was held for over 32 years by my friend Kika de la Garza. Congressman de la Garza had a distinguished career in public service first as a state legislator then as a Member of Congress. As a state legislator, he created the Nation's first state-run system of English language instruction for pre-school children. As a Member of Congress, he was instrumental in protecting rural and agriculture communities through his work as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Kika was also a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and worked to improve the quality of life for Hispanic Americans. As an expert on U.S.-Mexican relations he worked to build bridges between Mexico and the U.S., not walls. After such a lifetime of service, it is very fitting that the Federal building in McAllen is being named after such great Texan and a great American. I urge my colleague to support this resolution.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1009, a resolution to support greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs. I would like to thank the gentleman from Nevada, Mr. Porter, for bringing this forward. I am proud to be a cosponsor. November is National Runaway Prevention Month. I am proud that this body, in a bipartisan manner, comes together each year to commemorate this month and to urge our communities to get involved in runaway prevention activities. Runaway Prevention Month is a public education campaign spearheaded by the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) and the National Network for Youth (NNY) to increase the awareness of the issues facing runaways, and educate the public about the solutions and the role they can play in preventing youth from running away. It is a national tragedy that an estimated 1.6 to 2.8 million young people live on the street each year. One out of seven children in the United States runs away from home before the age of 18. The dangers these young people face on the streets cannot be overstated. In my home State of Texas, our runaway and youth crisis hotlines offer crisis intervention, telephone counseling, and referrals to troubled youth and families. A volunteer workforce of about 60 people answer the phones. Many callers face a variety of problems including family conflict, delinquency, truancy, and abuse and neglect issues. The program increases public awareness through television, radio, billboards and other media efforts. Hotline telephone counselors respond to about 40,000 calls annually. These people are true heroes because they save lives. The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act represents our national commitment to protecting and improving the lives of our most at risk youth. Sadly, funding for these programs has been eroded with the across-the-board cuts we have been seeing in our appropriations bills over the past few years. I hope that this year, this Congress will commemorate Runaway Prevention Month by increasing the resources available to keep our young people safe, healthy, and off the streets. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, the Bush administration and Republicans in this body love to tout the so-called success of their economic policies, but as any economist or working American will tell you, the facts just do not add up. Republicans claim that their policies are increasing job growth, but the fact is they are presiding over the lowest monthly job growth rate of any administration since Eisenhower. The current tepid growth is less than one-fifth of the average of jobs created each month during the Clinton years. When it comes to the real money American workers take home, the picture is equally dismal. Inflation-adjusted hourly wages have actually fallen since 2003, and the median annual income has decreased 3\1/2\ percent during this Republican administration. Meanwhile, productivity is up so Americans are working harder for less pay, while their employers reap the rewards. The solution to our economic situation is not the Bush plan of more tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent. These policies have done nothing to benefit American workers and have driven our country into huge debt.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 455, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague Danny Davis from the great State of Illinois, who serves on the Education Committee and the Government Reform Committee.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, but I would like to make some closing remarks. I want to say that I had the pleasure of serving, together with Chairman Patrick Tiberi from Ohio, and together we led our committee through the effort of the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. It was of great satisfaction to me, because we were able to pass amendments and requests for an increase in authorization for this very important act. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my good friend and colleague Charlie Gonzalez from San Antonio, who serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to express my strong support for House Resolution 874, a resolution recognizing and honoring older Americans. I would like to thank my friend and fellow Texan, Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, for bringing this resolution forward. As the resolution so eloquently states, older Americans have made countless contributions that have strengthened our Nation. We are gradually bidding farewell to our Greatest Generation that fought for our freedom and values during the Great Depression and two world wars. We must never forget their strength of character and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good of our Nation and our world. We are now welcoming the baby boom generation into the ranks of older Americans. This presents great challenges and great opportunities for our Nation. The challenge is to keep our intergenerational compact of Social Security and Medicare, not by privatization schemes or giveaways to special interests, but by prudent management and fiscal responsibility. We can meet that challenge. We have the opportunity to leverage the tremendous talent, the energy, and desire to make a difference that older Americans bring to our communities. This generation of older Americans is healthier and more educated than any generation before it. Its best years are yet to come. Our older Americans continue to make valuable contributions to our society every day. We must not waste this invaluable national resource. As we celebrate the contributions of older Americans today with this resolution, let us recommit ourselves to honoring them by completing the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and supporting our Federal programs that improve the quality of life of older Americans and enable them to continue to contribute to their communities and to our great Nation. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 6061, entitled the Secure Fence Act. This bill is almost the same bad legislation that was brought before us in the House this summer, but it is even worse because it contains no funding. It ignores real enforcement measures, like hiring more Border Patrol personnel, and instead builds a Berlin Wall on our southern border. I was born and raised in south Texas on the Texas-Mexico border. We who live and work along the border are acutely aware that the immigration system is broken and that a complete overhaul is required to restore any semblance of order. So long as employers need workers in this country, and while our immigration systems impede rather than facilitate timely access of willing workers to those opportunities, undocumented immigration will never be controlled. Walls, barriers, and military patrols will only force those immigrants to utilize ever more dangerous routes and increase the number of people who die in search of an opportunity to feed and clothe their families. The answer to this issue is comprehensive immigration reform. Fix immigration systems and you are assured better border security. Trade is the lifeblood of the Mexico-U.S. border communities and of this Nation. In the Rio Grande Valley, thousands of people cross back and forth across the border daily to shop, to work, to get medical care, and to go to school. Fences will stifle that trade and destroy the economic gains border communities have made. The McAllen Chamber of Commerce says, and I quote, ``This bill is a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem. It is a waste of taxpayers' dollars.'' I participated in the sham hearings in Laredo, Texas, in August of 2006 that only allowed testimony from one side of the issue and are being used to justify this bill. Instead of wasting time with this legislation, this House should be participating in a conference with the Senate on legislation that has already passed. The McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce stands on the feelings that ``we don't need more fencing, we need a real solution. We need a bill that will protect our borders without a fence and consider possible solutions temporarily, legalizing undocumented people who are currently working in the United States, with certain homeland security provisions and allowing future workers to enter legally, reunite families, and provide worker protections.'' I urge my colleagues to oppose this misguided legislation, H.R. 6061, named the Secure Fence Act.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of increasing the availability and affordability and quality of rural housing in the United States. It is a long time coming. To move towards this goal, I have introduced two pieces of legislation. H.R. 5896, the Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2006, authorizes $10 million for HAC in fiscal year 2007 and $15 million for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. This will enable the council to further improve housing conditions for the rural poor, particularly the poorest of the poor in the most rural places in the United States. H.R. 6044, the Rural Housing and Economic Development Enhancement Act of 2006, authorizes $30 million for the RHED program in fiscal year 2007 and $40 million for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage members of the Congressional Rural Housing Caucus and all of my other colleagues in the House of Representatives to cosponsor these bills. I rise today in support of increasing the availability, affordability and quality of rural housing in the United States. It is a long time coming. To move toward this goal, I have introduced two pieces of legislation. H.R. 5896, the ``Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2006'' authorizes $10 million for HAC in fiscal year 2007, and $15 million for fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2012. This will enable the Council to further improve housing conditions for the rural poor, particularly the poorest of the poor in the most rural places in the United States. It will also enable ``HAC'' to offer additional services to public, nonprofit, and private organizations throughout the rural United States. H.R. 6044, the ``Rural Housing and Economic Development Enhancement Act of 2006,'' authorizes $30 million for the RHED program in fiscal year 2007 and $40 million for fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2012. These authorizations will help the program provide additional funding to increase and improve capacity building at the State and local level and support innovative housing and economic development activities in rural areas. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage the members of the Congressional Rural Housing Caucus, and all my other colleagues in the House of Representatives, to cosponsor these bills. They will both improve rural housing and the lives of our constituents in rural areas. I ask that letters of support and a copy of the bills be made a part of the Record. Rural Housing Development Corporation, Provo, UT, August 14, 2006. Hon. Ruben Hinojosa, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Hinojosa: Thank you for writing and introducing H.R. 5896, which will authorize funding support for the Housing Assistance Council (HAC). Our nonprofit agency, Rural Housing Development Corporation, has worked with the Housing Assistance Council for several years. HAC helps local organizations such as ours build affordable housing. Our experience with HAC has been tremendous as we have received several SHOP awards since 1999. I have also attended the last three housing conferences held by HAC every other year in Washington, D.C. and appreciate the valuable information and networking provided. I also thank you for your outstanding leadership on housing issues and your creation of the Congressional Rural Housing Caucus. Sincerely, Brad Bishop, Executive Director.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the Conference Report for S. 250, legislation to reauthorize the Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. This conference report is the product of an all too rare, bipartisan, good faith effort to pass real legislation that makes a difference in our communities across the Nation. This conference report also sends an important message to the President who has proposed to eliminate federal career and vocational education programs: These programs work and we are united in our support for them. I am particularly pleased that this bill includes my amendment to encourage schools to develop individual graduation and career plans for students in career and technical education programs. Including graduation and career planning as an allowable activity under Perkins is one small step in addressing the pressing issue of our low graduation rates. These plans will help ensure that high school students graduate prepared for postsecondary education and the workplace. Action is urgently needed to improve our high school graduation rates. The Manhattan Institute, the Harvard Civil Rights Project, and the Urban Institute have analyzed the data and come to the same conclusion--roughly 30 percent of all students who should be earning high school diplomas aren't. For African American and Hispanic students that number jumps to nearly 50 percent. Furthermore, only a fraction of students leaving our high schools are prepared for college. The Manhattan Institute found that nationally only 34 percent of students left high school prepared to enter a four-year college. Only 23 percent of African American students and only 20 percent of Hispanic students left high school prepared for college. We must mobilize our efforts across all of our education programs to turn this situation around. This legislation can be an important component of what I hope will be a national strategy to improve high schools. I would also like to commend the House and Senate conferees for reaching an agreement to protect the integrity of the Tech Prep Program. This program has been tremendously successful in my district and across the State of Texas. Tech Prep programs have provided countless opportunities for our students to gain access to a rigorous academic curriculum, cutting edge technology, and college credit while still enrolled in high school. I congratulate all of the members of the conference committee for their fine work, especially the committee chairmen and ranking members. This is legislation that we can all be proud to support.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. In my opinion, if the patient gives permission that that information be released, I have no problem with that.