Ed Pastor

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 474 on H.R. 2378 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 436, I was in a meeting and the beeper did not work, and I missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to congratulate the Arizona Rattlers who for the second time in 4 years are the Arena Football champions. The Rattlers wrapped up the Arena Bowl XI last month with an unforgettable 55-33 victory over the Iowa Barnstormers. The fans who have watched the Rattlers in the Snake Pit are especially proud because they are the only professional sports team in the Valley of the Sun with a league championship. And now they have two. All this despite a season-ending fractured leg suffered by quarterback Sherdrick Bonner during the semifinal against Tampa Bay that left the team going into the championship game as the underdog. But those who doubted the Rattlers were proved wrong when, with the leadership of Coach Danny White and with touchdowns by Hunkie Cooper and rookie Donnie Davis, the Rattlers kept Iowa at bay and came through with its second championship crown. I want to not only congratulate the team, but the coach, staff, and all the fans who have made this a memorable season. As team president, Bryan Colangelo said the excitement levels that were displayed in the championship game were unprecedented in the league and unprecedented in local pro sports. I think the Arizona Rattlers for their win, because as Colangelo also said, ``It's such a great experience to win a championship.'' And the Rattlers have provided a great experience for fans in Arizona and the Valley of the Sun. I also wish to draw attention to this win because, as true football fans will attest, this is a wonderful sport and victory. Some might say arena football is not the real thing, but I would have to disagree. This sport has come a long way in 11 years and I'm proud to say is gaining more attention from sports fans. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I hope you and my colleagues will join me in congratulating the Arizona Rattlers and extending the warmest of wishes for continued success.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, the Mercury is rising in Phoenix and it's not due to the weather. I'm referring to the Phoenix Mercury, my hometown's WNBA Western Conference Champions. I know that Phoenicians and Arizonans alike join me in congratulating the Phoenix Mercury for their successful inaugural season, for which we are very proud. Through the energetic leadership of Coach Cheryl Miller, former Olympian and a winner of the WNBA Coach of the Year Award, the Mercury games led the league in attendance and drew 16,751 fans for the playoff game. As you may know, the Mercury players quickly captured the heart and following of many sports fans throughout the country, but especially in Arizona. With the team's spark plug, Michele Timms, and the great performance of honor roll players such as Bridget Pettis, Jennifer Gillom, and Toni Foster, the Mercury had screaming fans with their arms outstretched above their heads to raise the roof off the America West Arena at every game. This excitement and fever spread throughout the Valley of the Sun and the Nation and caught the attention of hundreds of young girls and women who themselves now aspire to WNBA careers. Through the Mercury players, they have seen that women too can partake in professional basketball career opportunities in addition to other athletic careers. From the beginning of the season, Cheryl Miller promised to give fans the championship. While we were disappointed in the loss to New York, the fans have not been disappointed in the coach or the players or their overall performance. Through the ups and downs of the season, they gave it their all and we are very proud of them. I want to thank the team, Coach Miller and the players, for their fantastic effort and I look forward to a great future for the Phoenix Mercury.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, on occasion, Members, when they take the floor, talk about the families they represent and what their position is. I have heard a lot about the Collins family from Georgia. So I thought I would share some of the feelings that the people have along the border. I represent the border in Arizona, from Nogales to San Luis, and I have to say that supervisors, mayors, councilmen and average Americans who live on the border are also concerned about the traffic of drugs into this country, and they commend us for the additional resources we have given, not only in Customs, Border Patrol and other law enforcement; and they would like to see that continued. They are also concerned about the traffic of undocumented people coming into this country, and they applaud this Congress for the additional Border Patrol agents and other resources we have given them. But they are very scared about having military placed on the border in their communities. They understand that the military is not trained for law enforcement, and so they ask, please consider their wishes, please consider their concerns as we fight the entry of illegal drugs with law enforcement. They also ask this Congress to look at the different programs that we need to implement, not only at the border, but throughout this country, that would stop, eradicate, the desire of American citizens for the intake of drugs. Mr. Speaker, I would ask consideration in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his time and assistance in this matter.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I would like to engage the gentleman from Alabama in a brief colloquy regarding the sustainable desert development program for combating desertification, a program which I support. Am I correct to understand that the committee's intent is that the $5 million made available under this bill is to be administered by the Agency for International Development on a competitive peer-reviewed basis?

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and congratulate our chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade] and our ranking member, the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio] for the strong bipartisan manner in which they bring this bill to the floor. Both gentlemen have led this committee in a spirit of great cooperation, listening to all parties and, I believe, producing a bill that is a fair balance between critical needs and limited resources. Foremost to me and to many of my colleagues are the programs funded in this bill that ensure the safety of our constituents and the protection of our communities from flooding and other related damages. I am pleased that the committee recognized the necessity to ensure adequate funding for the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out their missions in an effective manner. Although more funding is needed, the committee has done an excellent job in allocating funds to those projects that need them the most. Mr. Speaker, I am particularly pleased that the committee has rejected the administration request for total up-front funding for all new Corps of Engineer construction projects. The number of projects, the number of years to complete them and the limited funds available would make this a disastrous approach to maintaining the integrity and safety of our Nation's water resources. I encourage my chairman and ranking member and my fellow committee members to continue to oppose this ill-advised plan. Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this bill, and to congratulate our chairman and ranking member for the strong bipartisan manner in which they bring this bill to the floor. Both gentlemen have led this committee in a spirit of great cooperation-- listening to all parties and, I believe, producing a bill that is a fair balance between critical needs and limited resources. Although this bill does not meet the administration's spending levels for several Department of Energy programs, it goes a long way toward adequately funding several of the administration's priorities. Where differences still exist, I anticipate and look forward to continued dialog as we move through the appropriations process. Considering the number of days of sunshine in my State of Arizona, it is no surprise that I am a strong supporter of solar energy technologies. Although the committee did not fund the President's full request for solar and renewable energy programs, I do appreciate the increase over last year's funding and believe the funding levels will allow the Department of Energy to continue an effective program for developing these technologies. Overall, I am proud of the emphasis this committee continues to place on research, especially basic research. This bill provides the President's request or more for basic energy sciences, biological and environmental research, fusion energy, and high energy and nuclear physics. I am particularly pleased that the committee included language in the report that supports the Department's efforts to increase the ethnic diversity of students, researchers, and scientists working to maintain our Nation's international leadership in science and technology. The committee continues to struggle, as in previous years, with reaching a balance between micromanaging the Department of Energy and providing adequate and responsible oversight for our Nation's taxpayers. In this bill, the chairman and ranking Member have taken a hard look, and in some cases a hard line, on issues of DOE's management practices. Although I see room for discussion, compromise, and positive resolution, I support the committee's efforts to bring better government to many of the Department's activities. I look forward to working with our counterparts in the Senate, and the administration, to finding mutually acceptable solutions in the areas where presently there is disagreement. Again, many thanks to my chairman, ranking member, and fellow committee members for their assistance, bipartisanship and friendship. I would also like to thank the staffs on both sides of their aisle for their hard work.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey], the ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, first of all I would like to thank Chairman Wolf for the excellent work he has done in putting this bill together. I know that he had a very difficult challenge, but he was able to balance the conflicting interests and needs in a way that everybody should be satisfied with. I have to tell the Members, this is the first time that I have served on this appropriations subcommittee, and I have to tell the Members that I found the gentleman to be very fair and allowed us to give input, and this is why this bill is a bipartisan effort. I congratulate him and I congratulate the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo]. I also would like to thank the staff of the majority and of the minority for the fine work they have done. Mr. Chairman, there are several items included in this bill that I would like to point out for special emphasis. I am pleased by the increased funding for the Airport Improvement Program. The bill increases funding by $700 million over the President's budget request. As the Nation's airports continue to see tremendous increase in traffic, this additional funding is vital to the continued success and modernization of our Nation's airports. Mr. Chairman, I am also pleased that the committee was able to include a major increase in transit program spending. As cities and localities across the country struggle with increased automobile traffic, it is important that the Federal Government continue to devote its resources to alternative means of transportation. I believe the funding increase to the transit programs is vital to the continued improvement of our Nation's transportation systems, and I appreciate the chairman's inclusion of the additional funds. The Federal Aviation Administration will also see an increase in funding as a result of this bill. I believe that the continued work in aviation safety, research, and continued modernization of the FAA equipment is one of the most important aspects of this bill. I am pleased with the funding that has been made available to the FAA. Mr. Chairman, I have made the chairman and the ranking member aware of a concern that I have. This deals with the controllers that we have. As we have more and more controllers reaching the age of retirement at basically a young age, due to the stress that they undertake in doing their job, I do not think we are doing enough in terms of recruiting and providing an adequate salary to retain the younger incoming flight controllers. It is an issue that I know that the chairman and the ranking member will continue to work with. Overall, Mr. Chairman, this is a great bill. I thank Chairman Wolf, I thank his staff, and I also thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo] for making this truly a bipartisan bill. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Filner].

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Visclosky].

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 246 and 247. I was delayed at O'Hare Airport due to weather and due to flight delay, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to thank the sponsors of this amendment. It is very important. As it has been said, it is responsible and it is humane. However, Mr. Chairman, the point has been made that as we discuss the parameters of the budget and the funds that will be needed to restore some of these benefits, if we do not go to the $14 billion or higher, what is going to happen is that hundreds of thousands of elderly legal immigrants who are not disabled will not receive services in the future. This amendment is a short-term solution to a problem, but as we debate the budget we need to ensure that all the legal immigrants that deserve these services will be reinstated.

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I would like to congratulate the chairman and the ranking member for bringing this bill to the House so we can help and assist the flood victims and also provide more financial aid to the troops in Bosnia. There are two issues that I would like the House Members support. One issue deals with WIC. As you know, it should be the objective of this House to fully fund WIC. In my former political life as a county board supervisor and being in charge of an indigent hospital, we would see that women who came in and were enrolled in the WIC Program delivered children that were healthy and probably the children would have a better life of quality, where women who were not enrolled in the WIC Program delivered a low-weight baby and we found the children would experience problems. So it makes good sense to support WIC because it is humane and also it will save costs in the future. The second issue that I would ask support for deals with the Diaz- Balart-Meek amendment, and this is to extend the social services that will be denied to legal immigrants. What is happening today, Mr. Speaker, is that legal immigrants, people who have lived in this country for many years, have raised their children, have paid their taxes, and because of the new welfare reform legislation, will be denied social services. Many legal immigrants today are receiving notices that they will no longer receive social services due to their status of not being citizens. That is causing a lot of problems, especially to the elderly; people who are in nursing homes, people who need the assistance of food stamps because they are not making enough on their pensions, and also young people will be affected. So I would ask the Members to support the Meek amendment. All it does is extend the services until the end of the fiscal year so that the people will continue to receive services and, once we pass the budget, hopefully all those services will be restored to the legal immigrants.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of my colleagues the selection of the city of Phoenix as the recipient of the highest award of the Valley Forward Association for work at the Tres Rios Constructed Wetland Demonstration Project. The city accepted Valley Forward's premiere award, the President's Award, at the organization's annual awards program on September 20, 1996, on behalf of its partner cities, Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Tempe. The Tres Rios Constructed Wetlands Demonstration Project consists of approximately fourteen acres of wetlands constructed to evaluate and demonstrate the use of artificial wetlands to filter wastewater from the 91st Avenue Waste Treatment Plant while also providing valuable habitat and other benefits. Valley Forward Association was formed in 1969 to promote environmental, cultural and asthetic endeavors in the greater Metropolitan Phoenix area. Through the years, it has recognized many endeavors--private and industrial, commercial and governmental--for making the ``Valley of the Sun'' a better place to live. Valley Forward's awards program began in 1980 to recognize outstanding contributions to the physical environment of the surrounding communities. Through the years the awards program has grown to include innovative technologies, environmental education, achievements in public media, and artistic endeavors. Judges for this year's awards included representatives from universities, consultants, planners, architects, communications and businesses, who were selected for their knowledge of and contribution to environmental excellence. The President's Award bestowed on the Tres Rios Project was for special achievement in environmental excellence. It recognized a project that has tremendous potential for using wastewater to restore valuable wetlands in our region of the arid Southwest, creating fish and wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities in the community. I want to congratulate the city of Phoenix and all the other recipients for the honor that has been bestowed upon them and to bring to the attention of my colleagues this project, of which I have been a strong advocate during my tenure here in Congress.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Manuel de Jesus Alvarado, a man who brought hope and laughter to all who knew him. His goodwill was contagious but he had a serious mission in life. Manny, as everyone knew him, was an educator and an activist. From his earliest days at the University of Arizona in Tucson, he worked aggressively to improve the educational and employment opportunities for minorities. Manny's commitment to civil rights and educational activism is evidenced by the range and length of his community and volunteer work: Board of Directors for Southern Arizona Legal Aid--22 years; Tucson Dropout Prevention Collaborative--15 years. The list goes on. Manny was often recognized for his immeasurable contributions. Among the awards he was most proud of were the Tucson Association for Bilingual Education Award, the Chicano Student Leader Award, the TUSD Dropout Prevention Award, the Pima Community College Award for Dedicated Service. This award from Pima College best exemplifies his love for his work and his students as talent search program director at Pima Community College. His compassion and his enthusiasm found their outlet through this work with Tucson's youth. Manny recognized that many academically talented Hispanic and native American youth were not prepared to go on to college. Working through Pima College, Manny created the talent search program in 1988 to monitor junior high and high school students. Those students with academic potential were recruited and many have gone on to complete their college education. Above all, Manny was a ``doer''. He created, built, and energized people, groups, and communities. Although Manny can never be replaced, the legacy he left is strong. He was a role model and achieved all the worthwhile things of life: a loving, close, and supportive family; devoted friends; the respect of the community; a meaningful life's work, the trust of his students; a deep and abiding faith in God. Again, I would like to pay tribute to the lifetime of accomplishments of Manuel de Jesus Alvarado, and extend to his family, his wife, Theresa, his daughters Angela and Monica, and of his step-son, Fred Medina, my condolences on the loss of a great and honorable man.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding leader of the child care community in Arizona and in the Nation, Martha K. Rothman, and to congratulate her organization, the Tucson Association of Child Care [TACC] for its 25 years of outstanding service to children. Martha has been the central force in the development of TACC. Through her vision and leadership, she has encouraged its growth from a small group who developed the first child care centers through the Model Cities Program to what it is today: a large network that makes a positive impact upon the lives of 20,000 children each day in Tucson, Phoenix, Yuma, Sierra Vista, Douglas, and Nogales. The basic mission of TACC is to provide daily care for young children through a small group setting by licensed family care workers in their homes. This system provides the small group attention needed by young children while monitoring their safety and health through the DES regulatory and TACC oversight services. No child care provider in Arizona is more respected than TACC. In providing daily child care for children, it became apparent to Martha that additional services and family support services were needed. Because Martha is a master of bringing visions into reality, the following lists only a few of the services that have been initiated through TACC: The Center for Adolescent Parents, Happy Hours School Age Child Care Program, Happy Hours Summer Camp, Educational Intervention for Children and Families, Pima County Health Start, TLC: Choices for Families, Sick Child Program, Kidline, Parentline. Martha Rothman's determination to provide quality services and care for children has led to her involvement in a number of professional organizations that work for the betterment of children. Her commitment to excellence has earned her many awards and accolades from a grateful and admiring community. She has been honored as the Woman of the Year by the Tucson Jewish Community Council, as a Woman on the Move by the YWCA, as a Pace Setter by the United Way, and she has received the Governor's Meritorious Service Award. The list continues and her other awards are equally noteworthy. As her impressive list of awards and honors testifies, her work through the TACC is extraordinary. For this reason, I pay tribute today to Martha K. Rothman, a woman of great vision who has truly changed the world for thousands of our children.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a woman whose sense of compassion, community dedication, and entrepreneurial skill makes her one of Arizona's most well-respected citizens, Ms. Priscilla ``Prill'' Kuhn. Ms. Kuhn has dedicated her life to improving the lives of the underprivileged and disadvantaged, and thousands of Arizonans are living happier, healthier lives because of her hard work. Her altruism, quiet brilliance, dauntless energy and many friends have enabled her to fulfill her unique vision of building responsive communities for the members of our society most in need of advocates and protectors: our children, our elderly, and our disabled. Throughout her career, Prill has continued to develop her communication skills, her understanding of resource development, and her network of friends. Subsequently in 1985, she was able to pursue her dream of establishing her own business, Netwest Development Corp., in Tucson, AZ. As president and chief executive officer of Netwest, Prill incorporated her belief in positive community activism into every aspect of the business. Although Netwest has become a multi-million dollar organization with 230 employees and provides over 1,000 multifamily, retirement and assisted-living units, Prill's vision of a caring, responsive community pervades. Prill provides an immeasurable resource to the many boards and committees on which she sits. Her fundraising abilities are legendary. For her work, she has received many awards and recognitions including the Northwood University Distinguished Women's Award, Roots and Wings Human Betterment Award, Amity Foundation President's Award, International Who's Who of Professional & Business Women. The list goes on. In addition to her career and public service accomplishments, Prill's dedication to her family is also commendable. With her loving husband, Dr. Martin C. Kuhn, Prill raised three wonderful children: Katherine Edith Ruth Kuhn Fletcher Truman Kuhn, and Clifford Seymour Kuhn. She is also the guardian of her two young nieces, Patience Gabrielle Purdy and Josephine Elizabeth Seymour Lane, and she is grandmother to Jamal Truman Salah and Anna Priscilla Salah. I close this tribute to Priscilla ``Prill'' Kuhn by thanking her for the difference she has made in the lives of many Arizonans. Prill's entrepreneurial spirit, sense of community responsibility, and love of family make her an outstanding citizen of this country.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker. Due to mechanical problem on my flight to Washington yesterday, I was delayed in Chicago and was not present for rollcall votes Nos. 414-417. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all four of these bills.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, due to inclement weather, I was unavoidably detained and missed two recorded votes. Had I been present, on rollcall vote No. 402, H.R. 447, the Toll Free Consumer Hotline bill, I would have voted ``aye.'' And on rollcall vote No. 403, the Ukraine Independence Act, I again would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay special tribute to a lifelong friend and colleague, Mr. Raul S. Vargas, director of the University of Southern California Mexican American Alumni Association as we celebrate 25 years of his valuable service to Hispanic students pursuing a higher level of education. Born on May 21, 1939 in Lordsburg, NM, to a family of coppermine workers, Mr. Vargas lost his father at the age of 2 in a tragic underground mining accident. His mother remarried and in 1944, his family resettled in a low-income complex in Miami, AZ--the place where he and his five siblings were raised. After his early years of schooling in Miami, his family relocated to San Manuel, AZ, in 1957. While in high school, he played the trombone, served as student body vice president, and was also a star basketball player for the Miami Vandals. After graduating high school, he moved on to Arizona State University where he received a degree in business administration in 1961. Shortly after graduating from ASU, he served a 3-year tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Berlin. He returned to Arizona State University during 1964 to complete his teaching credentials. He obtained his teaching credentials in 1966 and began a distinguished career teaching in math and Spanish at the junior high school level in Ontario, CA. In 1970, Mr. Vargas witnessed the Vietnam antiwar demonstrations and the East Los Angeles riots which inspired him to pursue social causes at the community level. His passion for fostering better relations between civic leaders and community members led him to work at the Rio Hondo Area Action Council [RHAAC] where he handled community action programs. However, his yearning to teach and work one-on-one with students led him back to the education sector where in 1971, he joined the faculty and staff of the University of Southern California. It was at USC where he began working at the department of student affairs and services as director of the USC Mexican American Alumni Association. Mr. Vargas began primarily as an academic adviser providing guidance and counsel to students, who were primarily first- time college graduates of their respective families. He found these college students to be talented and hardworking who were often hampered by the financial constraints of a college education. Recognizing the impact of such constraints, he concluded that this was the source of high college dropout rates for Hispanic students. Realizing the issue was not being addressed, Mr. Vargas decided to do something about the situation. In 1974, he set up a series of meetings with USC alumni, faculty, business and civic leaders, and students which established the foundation of the USC Mexican American Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Today, the USC-MAAA Scholarship Fund exceeds $5.0 million dollars and has assisted over 3,500 students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Because of his determination and hard work, Mr. Vargas did much more than fulfill his desire to help young students pursuing higher education--he committed his life to it and has changed peoples lives forever. It was at Arizona State University where I met and shared a room with Mr. Vargas. Gradually, we developed a friendship that has grown and strengthened throughout the years on both a professional and personal level. As a former teacher myself, I commend Mr. Raul Vargas for having the vision to change individual lives, the courage to make his dreams a reality, and the commitment to follow through with this plan for the past 25 years. I commend Raul Vargas for his hard work, determination, and invaluable contribution to our Nation's youth.

Mr. PASTOR

Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Chairman, it is a very interesting debate that we are having today. The legislation we are discussing, not the amendment, but the base bill, is probably unconstitutional. All it does is prohibit a Federal official from communicating with a constituent in another language, other than English. This bill does not do anything to teach one English word to anyone or provide education in English. The author of this bill has said this is a symbol, a symbol that will unite us together. Mr. Chairman, symbols mean different things to different people. The symbolic gesture of this bill to many Americans will symbolize intolerance, will symbolize arrogance. I ask my colleagues to support the Serrano amendment and vote against the bill.