Rubén Hinojosa

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh); and I thank the ranking member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan).

Mr. HINOJOSA. Will the chairman work with me and the leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to develop report language urging the National Science Foundation to do more aggressive outreach and grant solicitation amongst HSIs so that more of them can improve their math and science programs to better educate Hispanic students?

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

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably detained this last evening and this morning. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 243, ``yes'' on rollcall 244, ``no'' on rollcall 245, ``no'' on rollcall 246, ``yes'' on rollcall 247, ``yes'' on rollcall 248, ``yes'' on rollcall 249, ``no'' on rollcall 250, and ``no'' on rollcall 251.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the amendments on vouchers. I speak as a representative of South Texas, a representative who has served on local school boards, on the Texas State Board of Education, and now here in the Committee on Education and the Workforce. I want to talk about the myths and facts about school vouchers. School vouchers are going to hurt the vast majority of kids who get left behind in the public schools. I am talking about students in special population programs that include bilingual education students, limited English proficiency students. I am talking about migrant students who need special programs. I am talking about the challenged and disabled students and the gifted and talented students not given challenging programs and trained teachers in their field, teachers who are not teaching in their major of study. There are many myths about vouchers, and in the area that I come from in South Texas, $1,500 does not pay a year of private school attendance in the private schools that I have in South Texas. Many of these schools charge tuition fees far more than the $1,500 average that is being offered. The American public has consistently opposed voucher proposals. Not one single statewide voucher proposal has passed. One does not need to be a nuclear scientist to figure this out. Every poll in the past 30 years has shown that the public is opposed to vouchers. When President Bush came in, he listened to hundreds of leaders in education throughout the country; and he learned very quickly that vouchers were not the answer to raise the level of education attainment. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues that we all get together and oppose the two amendments regarding vouchers.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in our Nation's capital to render a salute to State District Judge Fidencio M. Guerra, Sr., of McAllen, Texas, on behalf of the citizens of the Fifteenth Congressional District of Texas and in honor of his outstanding service and dedication to the Judiciary in the State of Texas. Judge Guerra was born on a small ranch in Jim Hogg County, Texas, on August the 6th, 1909. Like my father, he grew up in a time where few, if any, Hispanics held leadership positions in the community or the government. He graduated from McAllen High School and went on to the University of Texas where he completed his law degree in 1940. The following year he married Estela Margo, a high school teacher. During World War II, he was quick to volunteer to serve his country and was assigned to the State Department's legal office. In this capacity, he was sent by special assignment to the U.S. embassy in Bogota, Colombia, and the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, where he helped negotiate several international cases, including the disposition of Axis war assets in Colombia and assisting the Spanish government in dealing with war refugees. After the war, he returned to McAllen, Texas, and continued his practice of law. In 1949, Judge Guerra was appointed Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas where he was instrumental in presenting the State's case against the U.S. government over offshore mineral rights claims. The case ultimately reached the Supreme Court. As one of the first Hispanics to serve in the Texas State Judiciary, he was a role model to my generation and showed us that we too could succeed and hold public office. During the 1950s, Judge Guerra and his wife Estela became leader in protecting and expanding educational opportunities for Hispanic students. Estela, who passed away in 1999, was a Spanish language teacher at Edinburg High School and also at McAllen High School for 20 years before her retirement in 1977. She received numerous awards for her dedicated service to the children of south Texas, including the American Association of Spanish and Portuguese Servantes Award. In 1952, Judge Guerra was appointed as the presiding judge of the newly created 139th District Court at the new Hidalgo County Courthouse in Edinburg, Texas. He was successful in his bid to retain his post in the 1956 election, and until his retirement in 1980 ran unopposed in every single election. Even retirement did not slow down Judge Guerra. He continued to serve as a senior visiting judge until the early 1990s. Judge Guerra has always been willing to answer the call to service both from his government and his community. He remains active in various community organizations, such as Our Lady of Sorrow Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the McAllen Rotary Club. Judge Guerra and Estela raised seven children and taught them the value of staying in school and completing their education. Their children have followed their example and are professionals and community leaders. Diane Maria was a teacher; Robert is a retired teacher; Carlos is an attorney; Fidencio, Jr. is an attorney and former State district judge; Brenda is a teacher; Judy is a special education teacher; and Daniel is a doctor. They continue Judge Guerra's legacy by teaching today's children that anything is possible if you work hard, you have integrity and follow your dreams. In conclusion, Judge Guerra's dedicated commitment to both the Hispanic community in the State of Texas is an inspiration and challenge for us all. At age 91, he remains active in the community of McAllen. He truly exemplifies the values to which we all should aspire. Texas is a better place because of his many contributions. And as his Congressman, I wish him continued good health and good fortune. Thank you, Judge Guerra, Sr.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Jose De Escandon Elementary School in the La Joya Independent School District in my South Texas district on being named a ``Blue Ribbon School.'' Quality education is the passport to a successful future and Escandon Elementary has been relentless in its pursuit of educational excellence. This award truly symbolizes the many successful futures this school has forged for its students. La Joya is not a wealthy school district. The majority of the students are Hispanic and many live below the poverty level. It is in an isolated, rural community along the Texas- Mexico border. Despite these seeming disadvantages, under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Robert Zamora and principal Benita Salazar, Escandon has demonstrated what can be achieved when parents, teachers, school officials and the community join together to utilize every resource to its fullest potential. In addition to the Blue Ribbon Award. Escandon has been recognized by the State of Texas as an Exemplalry Elementary School, having over 90 percent of its students pass the 3rd grade Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test. Blue Ribbon Awards are exclusive in nature and are presented to only 264 elementary schools across the country including both public and private institutions. Schools receiving the award must demonstrate strong leadership; a clear vision and sense of mission; high-quality teaching; challenging up-to-date curriculum; policies and practices that ensure a safe environment conducive to learning; solid evidence of family involvement; evidence that the school is helping ALL students achieve high standards; and a commitment to share best practices with other schools. On Monday, I will be visiting Escandon Elementary to celebrate its great achievement. The citizens of La Joya are fiercely proud of their town and their school. This award is not only a reflection of the exemplary work that the children have done, but also a reflection of the values and dedication of the whole community. I would encourage every locality to follow La Joya's example. When the entire community works together and commits to helping every child succeed, it will happen and all of our children will receive the quality education they deserve.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of this extremely important bill. Nothing we do in the 107th Congress will be more significant than this reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as amended. First, I want to recognize the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) for their outstanding leadership in crafting a bipartisan committee bill. I also commend the Members who worked on the committee negotiating groups for their efforts. We have accomplished much with our committee, but much more work needs to be done. While I am in agreement with the core bill approach, I have grave policy concerns and I continue to believe that our children and the teachers deserve more fiscal resources than are authorized in H.R. 1. High stakes testing is going to hurt limited English proficient children the most. NAEP, or the National Assessment for Education Progress, does not include migrant students in their national sample, and the administration intends to use NAEP as a barometer to show how students are doing. Limited English proficient children should be assessed in a language they understand. We should provide positive alternatives for the students in the gifted and talented programs as well as advanced placement for the college bound. Let us increase our investment in our country's K-16 students. Our Nation needs 50,000 bilingual teachers to keep up with the demand, and this bill does not provide anywhere near the resources to meet this crisis. Look at the 2000 Census results and you will see the Latino population growth of 60 percent or more during the last decade. We need more funds to get the job done. Title III consolidates bilingual education, immigrant education, and foreign language assistance programs and delegates these functions and funds to the States. The bill changes from a well-respected competitive grant to a poorly-funded formula grant program that at present does not count all the eligible population. The elimination of the National Bilingual Clearinghouse makes no sense fiscally or policy-wise. H.R. 1 does not provide adequate funds nor strong policy support for dropout prevention. I remind my colleagues that already Hispanics suffer from the Nation's highest dropout rate. These students will certainly be neglected and left behind. Education Committee conferees are urged to protect and save the clearinghouse for all States to utilize the wealth of information such as exemplary programs to serve all eligible students. Even if title 3 were funded at the maximum level authorized by the committee, we would only reach one-fourth of the children. We hope that our colleagues in the other Chamber can help us reach the 5 million children seeking our support. The most egregious provision found both within title 1 and title 3 singles out the parents of limited-English-proficient children and treats them differently from all other parents. Even if a child is deemed to need special language services under the act, the school may put them in English-only programs without bothering to inform the parents. However, if a parent wants their child in a bilingual program the school must receive parental permission to include the children. Let us fix this bill so that only those who mistreat our children are left behind. I am urging my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1 because the core bill is there and because I think we can improve it with the help of our colleagues in the other body. I am also urging our President as well as the Secretary of Education to support us as we try to improve the bill so that children all over this country may truly benefit. This is the time for leadership and substance over rhetoric. I have tried to be bipartisan in my approach; however, if vouchers and block grants are added to our core bill on the floor, then I would be forced to urge my colleagues to reject this bill. Finally, Mr. Chairman, I am including for the Record a copy of a letter from the National Education Association in support of my remarks. National Education Association, Washington, DC, May 16, 2001. Representative Ruben Hinojosa, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Hinojosa: On behalf of the National Education Association's (NEA) 2.6 million members, we would like to thank you for your efforts to address the issue of parental consent for participation in bilingual education programs. Specifically, NEA agrees with your opposition to requirements for written parental consent for the provision of non-English education services to limited-English- proficient students. NEA strongly supports the provision of information to parents and efforts to increase parental involvement in their children's education. However, we oppose parental opt-in requirements, such as those contained in the No Child Left Behind Act (H.R. 1). We believe the proposed opt-in requirements will create unnecessary roadblocks to providing students with needed instructional services. Such requirements would result in increased bureaucracy, while intruding on local school districts' ability to tailor educational programs to serve the needs of their limited- English-proficient students. In addition, students could be placed in educational limbo while schools seek the necessary consent. Thank you again for your leadership in addressing this important issue. Sincerely, Mary Elizabeth Teasley, Director of Government Relations.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, I had the pleasure of joining my constituents in Goliad, Texas to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with music, with dancing, with great food and, yes, and Mr. Speaker, with great speeches. Texas A&M associate professor, Armando Alonzo, said so eloquently, and I quote, ``The important thing about this celebration is that it comes from the citizens of the community, not from scholars, not from politicians, or those of us who are at universities with special training.'' Although the holiday has spread throughout the world, its true spirit is in communities like Goliad, Texas, where people honor the value of their Mexican history and culture and the contributions that Mexican Americans have made across the spectrum of American life. Mr. Speaker, I stand before my colleagues as a proud first generation Texan, born of Mexican immigrant parents who came to the United States as children in 1910. Mr. Speaker, Goliad is the true heart of Cinco de Mayo, because it is the birthplace of General Ignacio Zaragoza, the young Mexican general who defeated the French at the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. This triumph was not only a military victory, but a moral victory over tyranny and oppression. General Zaragoza is rightly called the ``George Washington of Mexico.'' His dedication to the cause of freedom and democracy is an inspiration and challenge to us all. General Zaragoza was born in Goliad, Texas on March 24, 1829. He was the son of a soldier, but was educated as a priest. He was a small businessman for a short time, but his passionate support of Mexico's struggle for democracy led him to follow his father into military service. During the years of the War of the Reform in 1857 to 1860, he joined with the legendary Benito Juarez and fought in numerous battles, including the Battle of Calpulalpan, which ended the War of Reform. His military brilliance in those 4 years was recognized, and he quickly moved up the ranks to general. When Mexican President Juarez was forced to declare a moratorium on Mexico's European debt in order to salvage the bankrupt economy, Spain, England, and France sent their fleets and forced the surrender of Veracruz. Because General Zaragoza was serving as head of the War Ministry, President Juarez initially sent one of his other generals to Veracruz, Mexico. When the general saw the awesome forces of the great European powers arrayed in front of Veracruz, he immediately resigned. President Juarez then turned to General Zaragoza to lead the Army of the East. Although the Spanish and the English withdrew after negotiations with President Juarez, the French army, recognized as the finest army in the world at that time, began its march towards Mexico City. Napoleon III had dreams of an empire in the Americas, with Mexico as its center, in alliance with the Confederate States of America. However, standing in the way of French conquest was General Zaragoza. The young Mexican general was determined to make his stand at Pueblo, 100 miles east of the capital. He did not know it could not be done. His ill-equipped and outnumbered Army was composed of farmers, Indians, militia and many young residents of Puebla. Many had obsolete firearms or they used rocks, sticks and machetes. The French forces attacked on May 5, 1862. The battle lasted throughout the day. Despite repeated assaults by the French calvary and infantry, General Zaragoza's army held. They were fighting for their homes and their families and they would not be denied a victory. The French were forced to retreat in defeat. After that battle, General Zaragoza proved he was a man of compassion as well as valor. He ordered his medical staff to treat the French wounded. He received a hero's welcome in Mexico City, but while visiting his own sick troops, he contracted typhoid fever and died soon after, on September 8, 1862. He was only 33 years old. He was given a state funeral; and on September 11, 1862, President Benito Juarez declared May 5, Cinco de Mayo, a national holiday. This weekend's celebrations in Goliad were even more special as the birthplace of General Zaragoza was reopened to the public and rededicated after several months of renovation. Mr. Speaker, I want to especially thank Lupita Barrera and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife for the wonderful job they did restoring this great man's home. Mr. Speaker, I am extending an invitation to the two Presidents of Mexico and the United States to come to Goliad, Texas this next year. The people of Goliad are proud and determined to keep the legacy of General Zaragoza alive. The little town and surrounding communities have taken the time not only to celebrate, but also to teach their children the true lesson of Cinco de Mayo; namely, the freedom we now enjoy has a price, and each successive generation must be vigilant and willing to continue the fight if freedom is to endure. Goliad is over a thousand miles away from Puebla, Mexico. Yet the citizens of Goliad have adopted Puebla and Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, the birthplace of General Zaragoza's wife, Rafaela Padilla, as sister cities. Cooperation, trade and interaction among the three cities is vigorous. People along the border realize that what affects their neighbors affects them as well. The Rio Grande River--a Heritage River, has become a bridge between two peoples and two rich cultures. We all prosper through open communication, undying friendship and growing trade. This, too, is a lesson of Cinco de Mayo. General Zaragoza helped preserve our Union by defeating the French troops. Today, trade with Mexico is helping to drive our booming economy and strengthening the North American continent. In this interdependent world, we truly need each other. As you can see, I--Congressman Hinojosa am very proud to represent and speak in the Halls of Congress for Goliad and Goliad County. I am starting early--I am extending a very cordial invitation to Mexican President Vincente Fox and President George W. Bush to jointly visit Goliad, Texas during May of 2002 to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I want to extend the invitation to all of you, my colleagues in Congress, as well. Mr. Speaker, include for the Record an exemplary speech given at Saturday's Goliad Cinco de Mayo celebration by Professor Armando C. Alonzo, an Associate Professor of History at Texas A&M University into the Record immediately following my remarks. Excerpts From Talk Given by Prof. Armando C. Alonzo at the Cinco de Mayo Celebration Good morning. I'm very happy to be here today with all of you for today's celebration and I want to thank the Society of General Ignacio Zaragoza for inviting me to be part of this important event along with the city and county officials as well as Congressman Ruben Hinojosa. I'm always happy to be in Goliad because I also have some roots in this area because my father was born and raised in Yorktown, not very far from here. I want to make two points today without going too much into the historical facts of General Zaragoza's victory over the French in 1862 because others have already talked about that. One of the important things about this celebration is that it comes from the citizens of the community not from scholars, politicians, or those of us who are at universities with special training. It's important that events like this be planned and organized by the people in the community because history is made by the people of these communities. Trade and the economy are certainly important but this celebration reminds us of the value that history and culture have for Mexico and its citizens and for Texas and its citizens. The people in this community have taken the time and effort to celebrate our history and culture and that is very important because of the impact that this kind of events have for our children and for the entire community. Even though we are about a thousand miles from Puebla where the battle took place, this celebration still has connections and its far-reaching impact is evident by the fact that there are people here from the sister city of Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, from other parts of the country, and we even have a direct descendant of a soldier who fought at the Battle of Puebla--the lady who lives in South Texas, whose grandfather fought at the battle. Memory helps to keep our history alive. This celebration is a memory of an important historical event--the battle that took place on the Cinco de Mayo. It's important for parents to connect the memory of that event to our culture and history and pass it on to our children. This celebration, which goes back at least 55 years, keeps the memory alive of our history and our culture for the entire community. Professor Americo Paredes, who died two years ago, said the Mexican experience in Texas is part of the story of ``Greater Mexico.'' In his works 50 years ago Professor Paredes explained how cultural influences, such as language, music, the corridos, that are familiar to us, theater, and other factors made Texas a part of ``Greater Mexico.'' Today we see this ``Greater Mexico'' through the flow of trade and people. I look at the Rio Grande not as a political boundary but as a bridge between two peoples and two cultures. The Rio Grande is a bridge that connects us together rather than divides us. For us in Texas especially, ``Greater Mexico'' is part of our daily lives. In fact our roots can be traced to Coabuila from which the Spanish colonization of the provincia de Los Tejas proceeded. As a matter of fact, the settlers initially called this land, Texas, Las Nuevas Filipinas (in honor of King Philip of Spain). Nuevo Leon and Nuevo Santander also helped colonize Texas by sending settlers. So as we can see, the history of Texas is connected to Mexico in different ways. In Zaragoza we have a Tejano who is a hero of Mexico. Ignacio de Zaragoza was born in this little village, in this pueblito in Texas but his work, his values and his love were for his country, his patria, instead of for Santiago Vidaurri, the strongman of Nuevo Leon. Through his mother, who was part of the Seguins of San Antonio, he was a multi- generation citizen of Texas. Ignacio de Zaragoza was a Texan of Hispanic origin, a son of Texas who moved with his father to the lower Valley and then to Nuevo Leon. The legacy of General Zaragoza is the value and worth that his life gives to our history and culture. That is what this community is celebrating today. Thank you very much. I hope you have a good day.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true hero who gave his life to free his country from foreign oppression. Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin was born in 1829 at Bahia Del Espiritu Santo, Mexico near what is now Goliad, Texas in my Congressional District. He was the son of a soldier, but was educated as a priest. When the United States invaded Mexico, he tried to enlist but was rejected because of his youth. He was a businessman for a short time, but his passionate support of Mexico's struggle to create a fledgling democracy, made him a soldier. During the years of the War of the Reform in 1857 to 1860, he joined with Benito Juarez and fought in numerous battles including the battle of Calpulalpan, which ended the war. In April 1861, General Zaragoza was appointed Minister of War and the Navy. When Mexican President Juarez was forced to declare a moratorium on Mexico's European debt in order to salvage the bankrupt economy, Spain sent a fleet and forced the surrender of Veracruz. France and England joined Spain in the invasion of Mexico. General Zaragoza resigned from the ministry to lead the Army of the East. Although the English and Spanish reached an agreement with President Juarez and withdrew, the French landed troops and marched toward Mexico City. They met the Mexican forces at the City of Puebla in a battle that lasted the entire day of May 5, 1862. Under General Zaragoza's leadership that vastly outnumbered Mexican army and Puebla townspeople forced the withdrawal of Napoleon III's Army, the premier army in the world. Napoleon's army suffered heavy losses, but Mexican casualties were few. Although the French ultimately captured Mexico City the next year and put Napoleon's nephew on the throne, the costly delay in Puebla and the subsequent guerrilla war waged by Benito Juarez shortened the French intervention. It also helped preserve the American Union, as it kept the French too occupied to directly aid the Confederacy with troops in the U.S. Civil War, which was being waged at the time. General Zaragoza received a hero's welcome in Mexico City. While visiting his sick troops, he contracted typhoid and died on September 8, 1862 at the age of 33. He received a state funeral and on September 11, 1862, President Juarez declared May 5, Cinco de Mayo, a national holiday. Today Cinco de Mayo is celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world. This weekend I will be joining in the festivities being sponsored by the Goliad Zaragoza Society at the birthplace of this great man. The Goliad Zaragoza Society was founded in 1944 by a group of Mexican Americans to pay tribute to the legacy of General Zaragoza by showing respect and pride for their culture. Today the Society's primary mission is providing scholarships to help students pursue their education.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to ask my fellow colleagues in Congress to support the Democratic amendment being offered by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt). This bill provides our Nation with the needed funding for education. Unlike the Republican proposal, the Democratic amendment provides an additional $130 billion over 10 years for class size reduction, for school renovation, for title I aid for the disadvantaged students, Pell grants, and for Head Start. President Bush calls himself the education President, but falls short on adequately addressing the Hispanic education crisis facing our Nation. Just 70 percent of Hispanic students complete high school, and only 10.6 percent have a bachelor's degree. With the Republican-proposed budget, the Hispanic community will have no hope of improving upon their current situation and raise the level of education attainment. Mr. Chairman, President Bush has stated that his budget proposal will leave no child behind. Well, today, the Republican proposal makes sure that children are not left behind. Millions of students are forgotten altogether. My fellow Republican colleagues have said that today's Republican proposal will take the money from Washington and return it to the people. The truth is that today's Republican bill will take America's education budget and return 43 percent of it to the wealthiest 1 percent. The truth is that everyone in Congress wants to give America a tax cut, including me; but the real question is if we are willing to do it irresponsibly. Finally, the Spratt Democratic plan returns $910 billion to America and provides for education, for health care, for agriculture, for Medicare and election reform. This budget plan is responsible and good for America.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I am here today because I am greatly disturbed by the irresponsibility being displayed by the Republican Leadership in Congress today. I cannot believe that the rules of Congress and the People have been violated once again, and now--we are going to vote on a tax cut before we pass a budget. No family or business would make a decision that would have a major impact on their finances for the next ten years without first sitting down and working out a budget to figure out what they can afford. We owe it to the citizens of America to apply that same common sense principle to the Nation's budget and its security. I am further outraged that the plan the Republicans have offered gives the lions share, 43 percent, of the peoples surplus to the wealthiest one percent and ignores the majority of the hard working Americans who greatly contributed to the creation of the surplus. This outright robbery is further perpetuated when one realizes that most Americans will not be impacted by the tax cut, especially not the $25,000 a year waitress that the President speaks of with such conviction. For this reason, I ask you to pass a measure that utilizes common sense and provides for all American families and American workers. This can only be done by passing the Rangel Amendment, an amendment that takes care of our families and our future. The Rangel measure that cuts taxes responsibly and for everyone by increasing the earned income tax credit and helping our married families get tax relief. Let there be no mistake; today we stand at a crossroad with two paths: The first gives the surplus to the wealth for expanded purchases of luxury items. The second gives Americans the extra funds needed to live a better life. If a decision is to be made today, I hope we make the right one. Mr, KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, passing H.R. 3, the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2001 is simply the right thing to do. Whenever the federal government collects taxes, it takes money away from hard-working American people. The government isn't entitled to that money. It's the people's money and the government takes it away. We, as Members of Congress, have a responsibility to ensure the government doesn't take away any more than it needs. Over the next ten years the federal government is expected to run a surplus of approximately five and a half trillion dollars. In other words, the federal government will be taking away from the American people five and a half trillion dollars more than it needs to pay its bills. This is simply wrong. people need their money to pay their bills, put food on their tables, send their children to college, plan for their retirement, and meet all of the other challenges they face every day. Under the President's plan, we will send a mere 30 percent of that tax overpayment back to the people who work hard to earn their money. Not the entire tax surplus, just 30 percent of it. And the legislation we're debating today is even less than that--roughly 17 percent. Mr. Speaker, passing this bill is not only the right thing to do; we have a fundamental responsibility to do it for the people we represent. This bill will increase fairness in the tax code, allow every American income tax payer to keep more of their own money, and provide support to our economy at a critical time. I urge all Members to do the right thing tonight and vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, today I honor the 90th Anniversary of Brooks County, Texas. Brooks County was created in 1911 and will commemorate its 90th anniversary at a celebration on Saturday, March 3, 2001. Led by County Judge Homer Mora and County Commissioners Gloria Garza, Ramon Navarro, Raul M. Ramirez, and Salvador Gonzalez, Brooks County is entering an era of new beginnings. The county is currently working on several projects to stimulate economic development, improve its infrastructure, and preserve its heritage and culture. Compromising more than 900 square miles, Brooks County is between the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers in South Texas. Brooks County is a ranching area famous for its cattle breeding and meat production, including gaming grounds for deer, turkey, javelina, and a variety of birds. The area is also known for its agricultural industry, including products such as cotton, peanuts, vegetables, and melons. Brooks County's most valuable resource is its 9,000 residents, whose active participation in their community is evident through their commitment to historic preservation and volunteer spirit. Some of the points of interest in historic Brooks County include the Heritage Museum of Falfurrias, a shrine to Don Pedrito Jaramillo, and the first highway in Texas, a 20-mile section completed in 1920.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, every year since 1977, the City of Hidalgo in my district has held BorderFest. This is a four day event celebrating the diverse ethnic groups in South Texas. Not only are there entertainment, educational and cultural events, but each year a recipient is chosen for the prestigious Texan of the Year award. Past recipients of the award have included business and community leaders, college presidents, and government officials. This year's recipient is Texas Governor Rick Perry. Governor Perry was recently sworn in as the 47th Governor of the State of Texas. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, and a representative to the Texas Legislature. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and served in the U.S. Air Force. As a fifth generation Texan, Governor Perry has devoted his public life to serving his fellow Texans. He is committed to public school reform, and has pledged to make the Texas higher education system the best in the nation. He has also recognized the need to rebuild the state's infrastructure and take advantage of new technology. He is known for his willingness to work with members from both parties to get the job done. Rick Perry is well-deserving of this honor, and I commend the BorderFest Award committee for its selection of Gov. Perry.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on January 31, 2001 I was in my Congressional District and missed two yea and nay votes and one recorded vote. Had I been present I would have voted as follows: Roll No. 6, H. Con. Res. 14, permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust, ``yea''. Roll No. 7, H. Con. Res. 15, expressing sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck India on January 26, 2001, and support for ongoing aid efforts, ``yea''. Roll No. 8, Speaker's approval of the Journal of Tuesday, January 30, ``aye''.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, although the occasion for these remarks is a sad one, I am honored to be able to participate in this special order paying tribute to Texas legend Henry B. Gonzalez. As he did for countless others since first being elected in 1960, Henry B. truly paved the way for my being here in Congress. His invincible will, demonstrated so many times during so many battles, served as an example to me, that while the fight may not always be easy, it is always worth waging. His example set the bar for which all of us aspire. He was a great American, a selfless and principled public servant, the best of the best, a champion for the poor, a voice for the under-represented in Washington. Only briefly did I have the pleasure of serving with him here in the House. During that all too short time, I can assure you I was eager to glean whatever I could from his treasured house of invaluable knowledge. In fact, not a day passes that I am not mindful of how he commented to me early on that he would never recommend I rope a cow as it is going down the mountain. It was sage counsel indeed, and it has served me well these past several years, as I know it will continue to do in the years to come. To me, nothing is more important than standing up for what you believe in and having the fortitude to tackle the tough issues. Henry B. did exactly that, and he did it on his own terms and with the utmost integrity. In closing, I have the greatest respect for all he accomplished, and I will always admire him. Henry B. Gonzalez represents not only the best that Congress can be, but I feel that the best that an individual can be. He was a true and caring representative of people, and I can think of no greater accolade. I will miss him, Texas will miss him, America will miss him. His loss is truly immeasurable. Charlie Gonzalez, his son, is my friend and my colleague; and I look forward to serving with him in this House of Representatives.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this suspension. As a sponsor of the original House companion measure, I want to thank our Texas Senators for their hard work in moving this forward in that Chamber. I also want to express appreciation to my colleagues, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bonilla), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley), the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), for their diligent efforts that have brought us to where we are today. Mr. Speaker, I also want to say a special thanks to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), chairman of the Committee on Resources, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle), chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Power. It truly has been a joint effort and a perfect example of the great work that can be accomplished here in this body. In the south Texas/Rio Grande Valley, we are in a state of crisis. My colleagues may recall that last month on November the 3, The Washington Post ran a front page story headlined ``Life Along the Rio Grande Defined by Lack of Water.'' That lack of water, both quality and quantity, is the crisis we face. If I may quote from this story: ``Conflicts over access to a clean, cheap and sufficient supply of water are becoming a defining feature of life along the 2,100-mile United States-Mexico border, and of relations across it. While for many outsiders the border is synonymous with drug trafficking and immigration, when people who live here talk about confrontation between Mexicans and Americans, or tension between urban areas and farmers, or cooperation to solve problems, the dominant subject is always water.'' There is no question that the key resource challenge of the 21st century on the border is going to be fresh water. Drought conditions over the last decade have made citizens of the region keenly aware of the significant impacts a dwindling water supply can and ultimately will have if the problem is not recognized and addressed. Add to this situation the fact that, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the border cities of Laredo and McAllen, Texas grew faster in the last decade than any metropolitan region in the United States except Las Vegas, and you will begin to fully comprehend the impending magnitude of the problem we face. That is why last year I introduced legislation to rectify this problem. Joining me in this effort was the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bonilla), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez). All of us recognized what needed to be done. The suspension before us is a solid step in the right direction, one that will authorize the undertaking of a problem, rather the undertaking of a program to investigate, to conduct studies, and identify opportunities to improve our supply of water. In closing, I want to say that I am talking more specifically about looking at alternatives which include lining irrigation canals and increasing the use of pipelines, flow control structures, meters and associated appurtenances of water supply facilities. The Post article, one that I referenced at the beginning of my remarks, closed by saying ``Without water, you're dead.'' By securing this Federal funding to help us implement a visionary plan, we are ensuring that our border region will continue to flourish and prosper. This is the least we can do, and it is our responsibility to do nothing less.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on November 2, I was away from the House and missed one vote. Had I been present I would have voted as follows: Roll No. 592, Further Continuing Appropriations--``yea.''

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on November 1, I missed several votes. Had I been here I would have voted as follows: Roll No. 588, that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 2--``no''; Roll No. 589 to agree to H. Con. Res. 397, Violation of Human Rights in Central Asia--``yea''; Roll No. 590, Holt Motion to Instruct--``yea''; Roll No. 591, Wu Motion to Instruct-- ``yea''.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I, too, am here today to honor and pay tribute to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), the Committee on Education and the Workforce ranking member, as he prepares to retire from Congress. In the two terms I have served with him on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, he has proven himself to be a national leader on civil rights and human rights, a leader who truly cares about the people of his District and this country. He has been a fighter for access to education for kids and access for postsecondary education for all Americans, especially women and minorities. To serve in this Chamber for over 30 years displays supreme, supreme dedication. Yes, he is known by many as a great historian about Congress, but I will always remember him in the way in which he led his side of the aisle in the Committee on Education and the Workforce where I learned to respect this gentleman. For 32 years, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) has been a powerful force on matters involving labor and civil service employees. This was best evidenced when he led the fight for the Family and Medical Leave Act, the first bill signed by President Bill Clinton. Working families have benefited greatly because of his excellent work in the U.S. Congress. The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) was also remembered and will always be remembered as a successful national leader in our fight to defeat a very unfair version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act proposed by the House Republicans this 106th session. I will always remember how he pointed out the weaknesses in the work that they were doing and the amendments that they were able to pass because they had the majority. I will always remember how the gentleman from Missouri pointed out the need for improving ESEA so that it would reach those children from families of low income who, in many cases, are not being served properly, who have to attend classrooms with leaky roofs and bad lighting and all of the things that we would never want our children to have to go to school in. I will always remember the way in which the gentleman from Missouri pointed out the weaknesses of this ESEA program, not only for the minority children for whom he has always fought so hard, but for all American children. I say that many of the things that we have heard this morning and this afternoon, as the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) prepares to retire, is very true. But, especially, I learned that he had been one of the handful of Congressmen who founded the Black Caucus. I know that he saw that handful of Congressmen grow into a very powerful, large group of over 40 United States Representatives, better known as the Black Caucus. When I came to this Congress, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) taught me the importance of building coalitions if I wanted to pass legislation in this United States Congress. It did not take me long to see a kaleidoscope of possibilities of what could be done when we joined the Black Caucus with a Hispanic Caucus and the Women's Caucus and the Native American Caucus and all those who have come together to be able to make the changes that are making life so much better in our United States, improving the quality of life of all Americans. The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) is a man who has made a difference for the people of St. Louis and all of America, not just the community that elected him. They elected him, and he earned the right to come to Congress because he was a vigorous and exciting campaigner, a tough campaigner. That is what we have seen him here as a Congressman, a man with a great deal of compassion, a great deal of commitment, and a man of integrity. We owe the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) our gratitude for accepting the challenge as he did and for fighting the good fight. God bless the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) and God bless his family.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2614. This legislation is a wolf in sheep's clothing. For example, by not including the Rangel-Johnson school construction tax credit provisions, this bill fails to leverage $24.8 billion in financing for school construction and renovation. Studies have shown that school construction costs over the next 10 years will total upwards of $125 billion. The Federal Government currently funds local transportation projects, local airport projects, as well as prisons and local economic development projects. Why, why is it suddenly unreasonable to assist our schools with this most important project, ensuring a safe learning environment for our children? We can do better than this. I urge my colleagues to vote no on H.R. 2614.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, there is much good news in higher education this year, and we should take a few moments in the House of Representatives to take notice of it. Education Secretary Dick Riley appeared today before the last Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing of the 106th Congress. Although the stated purpose of the hearing was a sad commentary on presidential politics, it was an excellent opportunity to highlight the educational achievements of the past 8 years under Secretary Riley. He has been a true friend to all American children during his tenure, and especially to the Hispanic community, as no other Education Secretary before him. On behalf of all American children, I want to commend Secretary Riley for his tireless dedication to improving both education programs and the Education Department. I know I for one have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to work with such a great and inspirational figure. I am very glad to have worked with Secretary Riley personally, who visited my district twice over the past 4 years. It has afforded us both valuable experience because each time he has had the opportunity to witness the beneficial impact of Federal programs such as the E- Rate, bilingual education, or Gear-up in my south Texas congressional district. For example, we have reaped a great benefit from the $75 million given to date to the Region One Education Service Center, which overseas 38 school districts in south Texas, serving 298,000 students, 95 percent of whom are Hispanic. I know each time he visited he raised the morale of our students, strengthening the appreciation for education among Hispanic, low- income, and extremely motivated and bright students. While many of the Department's achievements were noted in his testimony, there are others worthy of note here tonight. For example, $18 billion has been added to the annual Federal education spending since 1995. Math SAT scores are at an all-time high. NAEP, the National Assessment of Education Progress, reading achievement scores have significantly improved in all grades tested, and ACT scores increased from 1992 to 1999. Better still, the numbers of females and minorities taking the ACT test increased five-fold. Secretary Riley is the undisputed champion of minority education. Under his tenure, the Department of Education has helped more than 200 colleges and universities, middle and high schools form Gear-up partnerships to help 480,000 students and their families to attend college. Many of the beneficiaries are minority students. The Department of Education has also been an avid partner in implementing the Hispanic Education Action Plan, or HEAP, as we call it. It was started in 1994. These are among the exemplary programs that assist a great number of minority students and their families in districts such as mine in south Texas, the third poorest metropolitan statistical area in the Nation. The Department's accomplishments included in the Secretary's testimony are sharply contrasted by a Rand report released yesterday on public education in my home State of Texas. The Rand report raises serious questions about the purported test score gains in our State standards test, the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills, commonly referred to as TAAS. In particular, this report finds that results on TAAS, collected by Governor Bush's State Education Agency, and other standardized tests such as NAEP tell very different stories. Rand is by all accounts an unbiased, well-respected research organization. So when their reports state that alleged minority students' gains are illusory, we must take notice. The report goes on to observe that ``evidence regarding the validity of score gains on the TAAS can be obtained by investigating the degree to which these gains are also present on other measures of these same general skills.'' So how did they measure up? Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude and say that it is vital to remember that the true education reform is slow and steady and based on empirical and unbiased data as Secretary Riley and the rest of the Department employees have done.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, there is much good news in higher education this year and we should take a few moments in the House of Representatives to take note of it. This is news for which we can all take some credit--the Congress, the Administration, borrowers, colleges and universities, lenders, loan guaranty agencies--so it is in that spirit that I offer these observations. Twenty to 25 years ago, few people left college with student loan debt. But today, student loans are a fact of life for millions of students and graduates. They have opened the door of opportunity to individuals who otherwise would have no options to improve their earning potential. President Clinton recently announced that the student loan cohort default rate is the lowest on record, falling from a high of 22.4 to 6.9 percent. This represents a savings to taxpayers of approximately $7 billion over the period from fiscal year 1993 to fiscal year 2000. But more importantly, it speaks volumes about the Department of Education's program flexibility and willingness to work with borrowers. Secretary of Education Riley noted that this record has been achieved by ``a robust economy, strong department management, tougher enforcement tools authorized by Congress, and stepped up efforts by colleges, lenders, guaranty agencies, and others.'' What makes this even more noteworthy is that the decline in defaults came at a time when student loan volume was tripling and educational opportunity was expanding to more low-income students, entailing higher risks. It is a great achievement. The President also recently announced a reduction in interest rates for students in the Direct Loan Program who make their first 12 payments on time. Students have especially welcomed this reduction in college costs. Student organization leaders have noted that all students benefit when the Direct Loan Program can offer the same kinds of repayment incentives as the bank-based Federal Family Education Loan Program. This encourages healthy competition between the programs, which makes students the ultimate beneficiaries. This reduction is possible because of the change Congress made in the 1998 Higher Education Amendments. These changes gave the Secretary the authority to offer the same kind of repayment incentives to Direct Loan borrowers as exist in the bank-based program. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to note that there is a third piece of good news in which Congress has played an important role. In fiscal year 2000 alone, $4 billion has been recovered on defaulted loans through vigorous collection efforts by the Department of Education and the loan guaranty agencies. Congress authorized the use of offsetting Federal income tax refunds, wage garnishment, and other methods to aid in the collection of these loans. What is important, however, is that defaulters also have the opportunity to get out of default through loan consolidation and the opportunity to repay their loans based on their income. We must never burden students with loans they cannot repay, and much of our current as well as future savings will be due to the appropriate use of the carrot as well as the stick. Declining default rates, increased collections, savings produced by the direct student loan program--when we combine the fruits of all these labors, the end result is that we are saving American taxpayers $18 billion. Too often we overlook the good news in education and fail to note the successes of our legislation and its implementation. Let us take a moment here to offer congratulations to all for the excellent news coming out of higher education this year.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak against the rule to consider the Agriculture conference report. My specific concern is with the reimportation language. As it stands, it is nothing more than a Trojan horse. Seniors in my congressional district have asked me time and time again to do something about the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs. This has certainly been a priority for me, and it has definitely been a priority for Democrats. Sadly, there are some for whom this is not a priority such as those who replace the bipartisan reimportation compromise with a watered down version. These people are going to leave seniors to pay the price for their indifference. The Democratic pharmaceutical reimportation plan is safe, effective, and keeps savings in the pockets of our seniors and out of the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry. The current version does not. Our plan allows broad access to supply the lowest cost medications that meet U.S. safety standards. The current version does not. Our plan is designed for a lifetime. The current version is not. I urge my colleagues in the House vote no on the rule to consider the Agriculture conference report. Because of the prescription drug reimportation language is just that, language.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote No. 509, making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2001. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''