Lucille Roybal-Allard

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Ralph R. Esparza who, in his 25 years of service to the City of Los Angeles, has demonstrated his unwavering commitment and dedication to improving the living conditions of the city's residents. Throughout his career Mr. Esparza has successfully led many of the city's key housing departments and programs. After only 4 years as a Rehabilitation Project Coordinator in the Community Development Department, he was promoted in 1983, to be the Community Housing Program Manager where he oversaw the federal Section 8 New Construction program. Mr. Esparza's skill and enthusiasm in managing complex housing and community development projects led to his appointment as Assistant Chief Grants Administrator for the Community Development Department. Later, he was instrumental in the creation of the Los Angeles Housing Department, where in 1990, took charge of planning, operation, and management of the city's housing programs. From 1995 to 1996 and again from 1997 to 2000, Mr. Esparza served as Director of the Program Support Division. In the year between his two directorships, he administered multiple programs including the Davis- Bacon Compliance Monitoring Program and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program. In 2000, Mr. Esparza's exceptional management skills were once again called upon as the Assistant General Manager of the Housing Department. Under his guidance, the Housing Department ushered in a new century with creative solutions to help address the affordable housing crisis and to improve the quality of life for the residents of Los Angeles. For his commitment and leadership and for improving the homes and lives of Los Angelenos, I thank Mr. Esparza and I wish him well in his future endeavors.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, in November 2002, Congress authorized the creation of a bipartisan 9-11 Commission to prepare a report on the status of our intelligence prior to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the effectiveness of our response to those attacks, and to make recommendations to strengthen identified weaknesses. I applaud the work of the commission and support their recommendations to strengthen our country against attacks at home and abroad. It is critical to our national security that Congress act quickly and thoughtfully to implement the 9-11 Commission's recommendations. I was hopeful, therefore, that the Republican leadership would put the interest of the country ahead of political considerations and bring to the floor a bipartisan bill that would protect our country from terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, the bill before us, H.R. 10, as currently written, fails to meet this standard, and I must reluctantly oppose it. H.R. 10 is full of extraneous provisions that have nothing to do with the 9-11 Commission recommendations. The Republican leadership has added highly divisive immigration-related provisions which have been criticized by the chairman and vice chairman of the 9-11 Commission, the families of the 9-11 victims, and even the White House. For example, the bill seeks to deport people without due process, punish those seeking asylum, return victims of torture to cruel governments, and prevent hardworking individuals from obtaining basic forms of identification. The serious problems with H.R. 10 could have easily been avoided had the Republican leadership written this bill in a bipartisan manner. Instead, they removed provisions that were passed in committee on a bipartisan basis. At a time that our country is at war and we are threatened on a daily basis by potential terrorist attacks, it is unconscionable that the Republican leadership has turned the bipartisan recommendations of the 9-11 Commission into a politically divisive piece of legislation. The Senate has proceeded in a bipartisan manner and passed, by an overwhelming vote of 96 to 2, an intelligence reform bill that follows the framework recommended by the bipartisan 9-11 Commission. It is my sincere hope that the serious problems with H.R. 10 will be resolved when the final product emerges. Americans are trusting that Congress will push partisan politics aside and unite in support of legislation that will truly make this country safer.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Homeland Security Appropriations conference report. I would like to begin by commending Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers and Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young for their efforts to address our Nation's security needs with the unrealistic budget limits that were forced upon them. I also thank Chairmen Rogers and Young for including in the Homeland Security conference report several items I requested to address issues of concern I raised during subcommittee hearings with representatives of the Department of Homeland Security. Included in this final conference report, for example, are the following items: Security Training--Congress has done much to address the security of our aviation system since the events of September 2001. However, I was concerned that Congress had not adequately addressed the issue of security training for flight attendants, potentially the last line of defense in the aircraft cabin. The bill directs the FAA to issue regulations for basic security training for flight attendants. Port Security Grants--Another of my concerns was that resources currently dedicated to port security are too often diverted to private shippers at the ports while the port authority received minimal if any funds. This bill states the committee's belief that port security grants, for the 55 ports of national significance, should be based on findings contained within port vulnerability assessments. This means that limited resources for port grants will be used where they are needed most. Security Assessments--In addition, I was concerned that critical security assessments had not been completed. This bill establishes a deadline for the completion of security assessments for the top 1700 critical infrastructure elements and key assets identified by the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate. This deadline will help ensure security assessments on such items as monuments, landmarks, power plants, highways, and food and water sources will be completed by the Department. Independent Districts--Many of the districts that operate bridges and highways are independent authorities, and as such, their eligibility to apply for certain homeland security grants had been in question. The bill clarifies the eligibility of independent districts, such as bridge authorities, to compete for homeland security grants. Immigration Officers--The bill also includes language I drafted to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from moving forward with the unnecessary and potentially dangerous privatization of key immigration officers at the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. These officers are responsible for handling classified information used to prevent fraud and the exploitation of our immigration laws. I am pleased that this inherently governmental work will continue to remain the responsibility of trained and experienced federal employees directly accountable to the Department and not to the bottom line of a private company. And I take the opportunity to thank the ranking member, David Obey, and ranking member Martin Sabo of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for their efforts to keep this language in the bill. In addition, the bill addresses two issues of importance to urban communities such as my own. First, funding for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program to protect high threat urban areas was more than doubled for a total of $1.3 billion. These additional resources are critical to our Nation's large urban areas which face a higher terrorist threat than other parts of the country. Second, state and local emergency managers will benefit significantly from an increase of $56 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants. In California, emergency managers use these grants to develop plans to help prepare our residents for disasters such as earthquakes, fires, floods, or terrorist attacks. Although Congress has called this grant program ``the backbone of the Nation's emergency management system'' it has been drastically underfunded for years, and this funding increase is certainly a step in the right direction. However, Mr. Speaker, despite the fact that this Homeland Security Appropriations conference report resolves several of the issues I raised in hearings and increases funding levels in certain accounts, I remain seriously concerned that this bill as a whole underfunds important homeland security initiatives and programs. I am disturbed that the measure retains the current formula for state-wide grants that continues to underfund the homeland security needs of my home state, California. Over the past several years, the Department of Homeland Security has distributed 60 percent of these formula grants on a per capita basis that does not consider critical infrastructure, vulnerabilities, or the actual risk of terrorist attacks. For example, although California is the most populous state with the most areas deemed at high risk of terrorist attack, it actually receives far less funding on a per capita basis than any other state. In a time of heightened national security and limited local resources, we need to ensure that federal resources are targeted where they will be most productive in fighting the war on terror. I am also concerned by the deep budget cuts this bill makes to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. This bureau is charged with processing work authorization and citizenship applications for immigrants in our country. This bill includes only $160 million to reduce the backlog of these unprocessed documents, a decrease of nearly $75 million from fiscal year 2004. These funding cuts simply do not make sense given that during the last 3 years, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services the last 3 years, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services has fallen far short of meeting its six month goal for processing citizenship applications. In fact, the backlog of these applications has grown from three million to more than six million nationally. These backlogs send the wrong message to our nation's immigrants who are eager to become full participants in our society, but must wait years before their citizenship applications can be reviewed and processed. I am hopeful that next year the President's budget will request enough funds to realistically address the Bureau's huge case backlog. And lastly, it is disappointing that the bill reduces to 75 percent the federal contribution given to airports to install state-of-the-art in-line baggage screening equipment. Previously, certain airports had signed letter of intent (LOI) agreements committing the federal government to pay 90 percent of these costs. Reducing the federal contribution creates an additional burden for our communities and their airports. I regret that Congress will not honor our original commitment to pay 90 percent of the costs. Unfortunately, fully addressing these and other critical national security concerns requires resources that Republican congressional leaders simply do not provide in this bill. Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, I will support this conference report to provide the resources, although limited, to help make our country safer.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of House Joint Resolution 57, which I introduced last year with my distinguished colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher). I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) for his support and his assistance in bringing this resolution to the floor. This resolution, I am proud to say, has the unanimous support of the California delegation in the House of Representatives, and I thank all of them for their sponsorship. Mr. Speaker, House Joint Resolution 57 names the proposed learning center in the city of Downey the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center. This naming is in honor of the seven brave astronauts who lost their lives on the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003. The city of Downey, which I am proud to say is in my 34th Congressional District, was home to the former Rockwell International plant where key components of NASA's space shuttle fleet, including the Columbia, were built. The history of America's space program runs deep through the fabric of Downey where virtually everyone in the city boasts of having a relative or a friend who played a key role in engineering or building our Nation's space shuttle fleet. When NASA closed the shuttle manufacturing facility, it was Downey's great pride in its space heritage that motivated city leaders to incorporate a space science learning center as a cornerstone of its economic redevelopment plan. Former Representative Steve Horn's early support was key to this effort, and his ability to secure Federal resources for the center was instrumental in moving the project forward. I am pleased to continue his work and to be able to have finalized the transfer of the former NASA site from the State of California to the city of Downey. When completed in 2006, the learning center will memorialize the Columbia astronauts, the rich space history of Downey, and all who helped realize our Nation's dream of space exploration. To effectively teach current and future generations about this proud history, Downey has contracted an historian familiar with aeronautic development and its special context in southern California. His or her work will be the principle source for history-oriented exhibits and programs at the center. The Columbia Learning Center, however, is also about the future of space exploration. Downey's leaders recognize that the city's legacy goes beyond astronauts and aeronautical engineers or the shuttles, Apollo modules, and moon capsules that were built in Downey during the last half century. They know the future lies in our youth. The Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center will therefore design programs and exhibits to excite our youth about the sciences and to inspire them to become our country's future scientists, engineers and astronauts who will explore the universe and make discoveries we can now only imagine. I cannot think of a more fitting memorial than to name the Downey Space Science Learning Center in honor of the brave men and women of the Columbia crew who gave their lives in the pursuits of space science and space exploration. I am proud to sponsor this legislation with the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and the entire California delegation, and I urge its adoption.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in reluctant support of the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2005. I say reluctant, because while there are some good things in the bill, it is lacking due to the fact that the House Republican leadership has failed to reach a budget agreement with the Senate Republican leadership. As a result, the bill before us has an inadequate budget allocation for the important health and human services programs it funds. While Democrats have reluctantly supported appropriations bills this year in order to move the process forward, we all recognize they are woefully inadequate based on the needs of the country. Nevertheless, my support of this bill is based on the fact that Chairman Ralph Regula and Chairman Bill Young are to be commended for the work they have done with the unrealistic budget limits they have been given, and the fact that I appreciate Chairman Regula including in the bill and report several important items I highlighted during our subcommittee hearings. First, the bill contains an increase for the national folic acid education program. Representative Jo Ann Emerson and I were the authors of this program that was established by the Children's Health Act of 2000. Severe brain and spinal defects have dropped 27 percent in the U.S. since the government, in 1998, began requiring makers of cereal, pasta, bread and flour to fortify their foods with folic acid. However, a national public and health professions education campaign designed to increase the number of women taking folic acid daily is still imperative to eliminate these birth defects. Second, language was included commending the Secretary of Health and Human Services for establishing an interagency committee on underage drinking and moving forward with a national media campaign, to be conducted by the Ad Council, to combat underage drinking. I feel certain that the final bill will include funding for the second year of this important national media campaign. These significant accomplishments by the department and by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration acting as the lead agency, stem from a bipartisan effort that I have been proud to lead with Representatives Frank Wolf, Rosa DeLauro, Zach Wamp, and Tom Osborne and supported by Senators Mike DeWine and Chris Dodd. Also, a number of other issues have been addressed in our report, including the migrant and seasonal head start program, farmworker housing programs, a pending regulation in the Department of Labor regarding personal protective equipment for employees, and newborn screening initiatives. I ask the various departments to pay close attention to the committee's directives on these important subjects and the issues they raise based on the experiences of the many affected constituent groups and the input from the administration during budget oversight hearings. In the end, however, this bill will be evaluated on the resources it provides to the many deserving programs within our subcommittee's jurisdiction. And unfortunately, due to the budget constraints I have already mentioned, the bill in front of us shortchanges some of the very programs and the very needs that so many witnesses told us about in their testimony. For example, Congress and the President made a commitment to our nation's children though the No Child Left Behind legislation passed with so much fanfare two years ago. Unfortunately, against the backdrop of record school enrollments, unprecedented federal education accountability requirements, and rising demand for college assistance, the bill provides only a 3.6 percent increase for the Department of Education's discretionary programs. No Child Left Behind is actually cut $120 million below the Administration's request, and the bill provides $9.5 billion less than the funding promised by the No Child Left Behind authorization. While 4-year public colleges and universities have experienced an average 26 percent tuition increase in the last two years, the bill freezes the maximum Pell Grant for low-income college students at $4,050. Training America's work force is the key to competing in a global economy, and training is also essential to prevent the loss of American jobs to competitors overseas. Despite a loss of 1.8 million private sector jobs since President Bush took office, the bill provides $40 million less than last year for employment and training assistance programs administered by the Department of Labor. Health programs point out the real dilemma in our bill. Although the bill does substantially increase funding for community health centers, global disease detection, AIDS drug assistance, and chronic disease prevention, a number of other programs are cut including rural health outreach grants, health training programs in primary care medicine and dentistry, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. Funding for the National Institutes of Health is increased, but the 2.6 percent increase is the smallest in 19 years and less than the 3.5 percent increase estimated to cover inflation costs for biomedical research. Democrats don't just criticize, however. We offered revisions to the budget resolution that would have allowed this bill to make a greater investment in education, health care, and medical research. When the bill was considered by the subcommittee and the full Appropriations Committee, we again offered amendments to add $7.4 billion to the bill by reducing by 30 percent the 2005 tax cuts for people with incomes over $1 million. In fact, polls consistently show that the American public is far more interested in preserving important education and health priorities than in tax cuts that benefit primarily the rich. I agree with the common-sense approach to this problem that has been consistently laid out by Ranking Member David Obey. Let's simply reduce--not eliminate, but reduce--the tax break we give to millionaires--those with adjusted incomes greater than $1 million. By doing so we can increase Title I, add funding for No Child Left Behind programs, maintain college affordability by raising Pell grants, shore up our health safety net programs, rebuild our public health system to respond to disease outbreaks and possible terrorist attacks. But these fiscally responsible efforts by Mr. Obey and other Democrats have been defeated by the Republican majority at each turn, resulting in the bill we are considering today. The bill before the House is governed by a rule that prevents us from having these choices because the Republican leadership knows that given the opportunity this House would vote overwhelmingly to adequately fund this bill. The Labor-HHS-Education bill, which is one of the most important bills that comes out this House, contains the most deserving programs administered by the federal government in support of the well-being of our people. These programs are also cost-effective in providing worker training and protection, helping to educate our children from Head Start to Pell grants, and in contributing to a healthy populace through our public health system and health safety net programs. The bill in front of the House today is the best that can be done under the circumstances. But it does not reflect the aspirations of American society. I believe we can do more for America's children, America's workers, and America's future. Although I will support this bill today, I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee and in the House to look for opportunities before we complete our work this year so that the future of America's children and America's families will be bright.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a woman whose 42 years of public service to the City of Los Angeles serves as an example to us all. On behalf of my esteemed colleagues, I would like to acknowledge this remarkable woman whose reputation for hard work, humility, and effectiveness is well deserved. Ms. Cardella began her career in 1960 as a senior clerk stenographer for the Los Angeles City Health Department. In 1963, she transferred to the office of 13th District Councilman James Harvey Brown. Four years later, she joined the office of Fowler D. Jones, the first Chief Legislative Analyst for the Los Angeles City Council. Over the next 34 years, Ms. Cardella faithfully served as the Executive Assistant to each succeeding Chief Legislative Analyst. She has had the opportunity to work with many of the city's leaders, including 4 mayors, 8 City Council presidents, 67 city council members, 4 city administrative officers, and all 7 chief legislative analysts. Ms. Cardella even worked for the city when my father, former Congressman Edward Roybal, started his career in elected office as a Los Angeles City Council Member. As part of the team of workers that have led Los Angeles, Ms. Cardella played a role in responding to Los Angeles's triumphs and tragedies--working to prepare the city for the 1984 Olympic Games and to rebuild our city after three major earthquakes, two episodes of civil disturbance, and the Baldwin Hills Flood. Ms. Cardella has meant many things to many people. To her neighborhood, she is a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School. To others, she is an alumnus of Glendale College, where she received an associate of arts degree. To her family, she is a loved and respected mother and grandmother. To the city that she proudly served, she is the standard to which few can lay claim, but toward which all employees strive. All who know and have worked with Ms. Cardella, know that her loyalty to her office was second only to her loyalty to the citizens of Los Angeles themselves. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to express my thanks, and that of a grateful city, to Joyce Cardella for 42 years of dedication and public service.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, due to circumstances affecting the health of a family member, I was not present for rollcall votes 385 through 389 on Thursday, July 15. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 385, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 386, ``no'' on rollcall vote 387, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 388, and ``yea'' on rollcall vote 389.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, let me begin by thanking the gentleman from Kentucky (Chairman Rogers) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Ranking Member Sabo) for their hard work on this very important bill. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would prohibit the Citizenship and Immigration Service under the Department of Homeland Security from needlessly and dangerously contracting out work that is inherently governmental in nature and essential to maintaining our national security. This work is performed by immigration information officers, contact representatives and investigative assistants who are well- trained to understand our country's complex immigration laws and regulations. In the course of performing their duties, they often use highly classified information to prevent immigration fraud and ensure terrorists do not exploit our immigration laws. The Office of Management and Budget, OMB, will argue that privatizing immigration officers will save taxpayers and the Federal Government money. The General Accounting Office, however, has challenged OMB's estimated savings derived from privatization. The Comptroller General recently stated that GAO cannot verify OMB's claims because government agencies do not have accounting systems to provide reliable tracking of costs and savings, but even if savings could be realized, the fact remains that the bottom line should never take precedent over our national security. We need to have reliable, well-trained and experienced immigration personnel, employees who are directly accountable to the Department of Homeland Security and not motivated by production quotas set by profit- oriented contract employers with an historically high rate of turnover. Of greater concern, however, is the Department of Homeland Security's inability to protect sensitive information and maintain quality control of contract workers. This danger is highlighted in a July 2003 GAO report that found that the Immigration Service did not have the basic infrastructure, including the oversight information and workforce, to ensure that its contracting activities were effective. Furthermore, in a December 2003 report and in a March 2004 follow-up report, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security listed contracting procedures as a major management challenge for the Department. Of equal concern is information in memos from the Department of Homeland Security that I received from Senator Lieberman's office. These memos contain evidence that Immigration Service management tried for months to discourage Homeland Security leadership from implementing the privatization review. Let me quote two passages from a document prepared by consultants from Grant Thornton and PEC Solutions for Immigration Service officials. The first passage reads, ``Accomplishing the A-76 study under present scope will not achieve the A-76 program's overarching operational efficiency objectives, and also will not address the current extensive customer service problems.'' The second passage reads, ``Moving forward with an A-76 competition based on business processes limits the agency's ability to implement substantial organizational and operational improvements.'' Clearly, Mr. Chairman, contracting out of immigration provisions has every potential of endangering our country's ability to meet our goals of having a Department of Homeland Security that is well-armed to protect our country from those who would do it harm. In closing, Mr. Chairman, my amendment does not attempt to address the overall issue of contracting out Federal jobs. My amendment is narrowly drafted to ensure that the work of immigration officers, which is inherently governmental in nature and critical to our national security, continues to remain the responsibility of trained and experienced Federal employees directly accountable to the Department of Homeland Security and not to the bottom line of a private company. I urge my colleagues to support this very important national security amendment.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment. The Chairman pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendment.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I will be voting for the resolution today because I agree with its praise of our troops in Iraq, who under difficult circumstances continue to display high standards and professionalism during the occupation and rebuilding of Iraq. However, I am very disappointed in the resolution and will vote for it with reservations. The primary purpose of the resolution should have been to deplore any abuses which have occurred while prisoners are in U.S. custody, and to demand swift prosecution of those who committed illegal or unethical acts, including those responsible in the military chain of command. Atrocities in the Abu Ghraib prison, and anywhere else they may have been committed, must be thoroughly and openly addressed through congressional investigations. These investigations must also include the conduct of American contractors who had a role in overseeing prisoners. Irresponsibly, these important points are left out of the resolution the House is considering today. The recent abuse of prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison is not only disgraceful, it is damaging to the interests of the United States, and ultimately it endangers our men and women in uniform not just in Iraq but around the world. We must act quickly to convince the court of world opinion that the American people do not tolerate illegal or unethical conduct by Americans and will take the necessary steps to stop it and prevent it from happening again.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in recognizing the 18th National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. We continue to make great strides in the fight against cancer. As a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, I was pleased to hear from Dr. Elias Zerhouni, the director of the National Institutes of Health, just this morning. Dr. Zerhouni and Dr. Von Eschenbach, the director of the National Cancer Institute, spoke about the enormous strides that are being made in cancer research. There are now 10 million cancer survivors in the U.S. compared to 3 million in 1971. Death rates from the four most common cancers--lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal--continue to decline. However, cancer continues to take a significant toll in the U.S. This year, 1.3 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and, unfortunately, 556,000 are expected to die. Cancer remains the number two killer in the U.S. I am particularly dismayed to see that the benefits of the research-- the breakthroughs that have been made in terms of prevention and treatment--are not being enjoyed by all communities equally. Sadly, minority communities continue to bear a disproportionate burden of cancer cases. We know the consequences of such health disparities, and we know that many of them stem from inadequate access by our minority communities to preventative services and early detection. Minorities also have a lower survival rate. Clearly, these will continue to be significant issues that need to be addressed by the National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities. I was very pleased to visit this week with constituents from my congressional district representing One Voice Against Cancer. My constituents included Ivonne DeCorra from Huntington Park and Julie Fleshman from Los Angeles, who is also the executive director of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Another visitor, Michele Perry, knows the heartache of cancer first hand. Having lost her mother to cancer at a young age, Michele was herself diagnosed in 2000. Her personal trials however, have driven her to become an advocate for cancer research and patient programs so that she, her daughter, and countless other will never have to feel the heartache of cancer again. It is that type of dedication and commitment--stemming from sometimes tragic personal experiences--that have made One Voice Against Cancer an effective voice in advocating for adequate funding for cancer research, prevention and treatment. I and my colleagues heard their message this week, and despite difficult budget circumstances, we will continue the fight against cancer. The future health of America as a whole will be influenced substantially by our success in improving the health of minority and other medically underserved populations. By increasing awareness of programs and services in minority communities, we can provide an opportunity to engage these communities in the fight against cancer. That was the message of One Voice Against Cancer this week, incorporated in their theme--``Cancer is a Burden. Finding Help Shouldn't Be.'' And that is the message that my colleagues and I must act on as we recognize National Minority Cancer Awareness Week and continue the fight against cancer.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, today, my colleagues Mr. Anibal Acevedo-Vila, Mr. Joe Baca, Mr. Xavier Becerra, Mr. Dennis Cardoza, Mr. Charlie Gonzalez, Mr. Raul Grijalva, Mr. Luis Gutierrez, Mr. Ruben Hinojosa, Mr. Robert Menendez, Ms. Grace Napolitano, Mr. Solomon Ortiz, Mr. Ed Pastor, Mr. Silvestre Reyes, Mr. Ciro Rodriguez, Ms. Linda Sanchez, Ms. Loretta Sanchez, Mr. Jose Serrano, Ms. Hilda Soils, Mr. Nydia Velazquez and I join together to honor the career of Antonia Hernandez as President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a nationally recognized non-profit organization. Through the legal system, community education, research and advocacy MALDEF is dedicated to protecting the civil rights of the nation's 40 million Latinos. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Hernandez on her 23 years of distinguished service at MALDEF and to thank her for her tireless advocacy on behalf of the Latino community in this country. In so many ways, Antonia Hernandez is a role model for all Americans. Born in Mexico, she and her family moved to the United States when she was only 8 years old. They settled in the Maravilla area of East Los Angeles where her father supported his wife and six children as a gardener and laborer. As the eldest child, Antonia Hernandez learned English quickly and excelled in school. She would later go on to attend UCLA where she received her bachelor's degree, teaching certificate and, in 1974, her law degree. Soon after passing the California State Bar exam, Antonia Hernandez became a U.S. citizen. She later told a Los Angeles Times reporter that her patriotism to this country helped to inspire her interest in public service. ``I love (this country) more than most because I don't take the rights and privileges of an American citizen for granted. I remembered there was a knot in my throat when I took the oath (of citizenship),'' The Los Angeles Times reported in 1985. An expert in civil rights and immigration issues, she began her legal career as a Staff Attorney with the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice and worked as counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary under the leadership of Senator Edward Kennedy. In 1981, Ms. Hernandez joined MALDEF as Regional Counsel in Washington, DC. Ms. Hernandez was elected to MALDEF's presidency in 1985 where she was responsible for directing all litigation and advocacy programs, managing a $6.2 million annual budget, and supervising a 75 person staff. Ms. Hernandez's management expertise guided the organization to long- term financial stability. In 1991, she created a permanent endowment for MALDEF by raising funds for the national headquarters building in Los Angeles. She has been pivotal in overseeing the national expansion of the organization, which today has offices in Chicago, Houston, Sacramento, Washington DC, San Antonio, and Atlanta. Most recently, Ms. Hernandez directed the opening of the Atlanta office in 2002, to serve the burgeoning Latino population in the Southeast. A tireless champion for educational equity, Ms. Hernandez has numerous accomplishments in this area. She led MALDEF's legal challenge to the state of Texas in Edgewood Ind. Sch. Dist. v. Kirby to counter the economic and racial disparities used in financing Texas public schools. This legal battle, which began in 1984, ended successfully in 1995 when the Texas Supreme Court held that the Texas legislature had the authority to require wealthier school districts to share their funding with poorer districts, in turn creating an educational system that provides greater opportunities for all Texas children. In California, MALDEF successfully challenged a similar school financing system in Godinez v. Davis. The state had a system that short-changed urban schools while providing more money to suburban areas. This case resulted in the award of hundreds of millions of dollars for urban area schools, many with a significant number of Latino students. Antonia Hernandez fought for the rights of limited-English proficient students by mounting a case against the Denver School District in 1984 for their lack of programs to educate non-English speakers. As a result of their legal victories, MALDEF won the creation of noted bilingual and multicultural programs for the Latino students of Denver. Antonia Hernandez also won key victories for Latino students by expanding their access to higher education. In 1993, MALDEF was victorious in LULAC v. Richards, where the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the lack of higher education programs in the predominantly Latino area of South Texas violated the state constitution. Under Ms. Hernandez's leadership, MALDEF helped to secure the right for undocumented students in California to attend state universities. In 2001, MALDEF developed a successful grassroots campaign in support of legislation that allows undocumented students in California to enroll at any publicly financed California university for the same cost as other state residents. To further this effort nationwide, in 2003, she established the Ellen and Federico Jimenez Scholarship Fund for undocumented students who are ineligible for state or federal financial school assistance. This scholarship makes the critical difference in the lives of students who would otherwise be unable to afford the cost of a higher education As a mother of three children, Antonia Hernandez also realizes the tremendous influence parents have in lives of their children. That's why, under her leadership, MALDEF graduated thousands of parent leaders from its Parent School Partnership (PSP) program, which instructs parents on how to become involved in their children's education. In the area of employment, Antonia Hernandez has provided opportunities for Latinos by mounting legal battles for fair hiring practices. Her work on the landmark legal case of Ballasteros v. Lucky forced the food service industries to allow Latinos to work in every major grocery chain in California. The victory resulted in the hiring of Latinos in several hundred retail stores. Antonia Hernandez has been a tenacious defender of immigration reform. Working with Congress and state governments, she has been a devoted advocate on behalf of fair and just immigration reform. Most notably, in 1985, MALDEF successfully halted the implementation of California's Proposition 187, which would have barred immigrants from receiving public education, medical services, and other public benefits. Underlying all of MALDEF's efforts is a steadfast commitment to political empowerment in the Latino community. With this in mind, under Antonia Hernandez's leadership, MALDEF has vigorously defended the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1982, she helped to create a new section of the Act that explicitly outlaws discriminatory election practices. She also championed a bilingual provision to protect limited-English proficient voters. In order to ensure a strong political voice for Latinos throughout the country, MALDEF led nationwide census outreach campaigns in 1990 and 2000. Over the years, MALDEF has won many Latino- majority voting districts, one of which resulted in the first Latino seat in 100 years in Los Angeles County (1990 Garza v. County of L.A.) and another which created the state of Illinois' first Latino Congressional district as a remedy for past discrimination in the Chicago area (1995 King v. Illinois State Board of Elections). Antonia Hernandez has worked to ensure that Latinos receive their fair share of public services, including access to medical insurance, language translation for public services, and fair and equitable treatment in land-use decisions. Just one example is the 2001 case in which MALDEF won a case against the City of Poth, a South Texas town that finally agreed to pave the streets in its Latino neighborhoods. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Hernandez is a visionary. Through her work at MALDEF, her service to the Latino community has truly improved lives and helped to carry out the organization's unwavering mission to remove obstacles that prevent the Latino community from realizing its dreams. We thank her for her many years of public service and we are grateful that she will continue her work in the community as she moves on to serve as President and CEO of the California Community Foundation. Her courage, compassion, and, above all, her dedication to helping others have made a difference at MALDEF and in the Latino community. We trust that this is indeed not an end to her work in public service, but a new beginning to even greater victories ahead.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, at a time when our country is at war, Members of this House must stand, not as either Democrat or Republican, but together as Americans totally united in support of our troops. For that reason, Mr. Speaker, it is with bitter disappointment and regret that I find that I must stand in opposition to House Resolution 557. By introducing this flawed partisan resolution, which is therefore tainted in purpose, the Republican leadership has chosen, once again, to try to divide us rather than unify us during this dark time in our Nation's history. What makes H.R. 557 even more misguided is the fact that our Ranking Member Congressman Jack Murtha--who many in this august body would surely agree has no equal in Congress when it comes to supporting our troops--was not even consulted or given the opportunity to take part in the drafting of this resolution to ensure a well-deserved bipartisan tribute is paid to our troops in Iraq. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to extend my own personal praise and appreciation for the sacrifices and outstanding service of our brave men and women in Iraq. Like all Americans, I am extremely proud of their service, their commitment, and, yes, their willingness, if necessary, to pay the ultimate price to protect our country at home and abroad. Brave men and women such as Lance Corporal Henry Lopez, Army Spec. Joo H. Bahk, and Corporal Alex Argumedo, and Marines Jonathan Kirkpatrick, Juan Silva and Javier Martinez, and many others from my 34th Congressional District who are true heroes in every sense of the word. Like all Americans, I am grateful to the thousands of soldiers who have been wounded in battle and whose lives have been forever changed because of their severe injuries suffered on our behalf. I had the privilege of meeting with some of them at Walter Reed Army Medical Center last year, and I found the experience both moving and humbling. They are truly an inspiration and deserve our praise and the support they need to heal. They also deserve and have earned every opportunity we can give them and their families to look forward to a better future. And Mr. Speaker, to compensate for that which H.R. 557 fails to do, I offer my deep personal sorrow, regret, and respect to those like Army Specialist Jason Kristoffer Chappell and Army Spc. Jose L. Mora who paid the ultimate price for our country. And to all the families who lost a loved one, I extend my most heartfelt condolences. In closing Mr. Speaker, let me, once again, extend my praise and appreciation for the sacrifices made by our troops in Iraq and throughout the world. Every day, in ways both large and small, they make us all very proud to be Americans. May God continue to bless them and keep them safe.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Korean immigrants to the United States. On January 13, 1903, the first wave of Korean immigrants arrived in Hawaii. Although recruited to do backbreaking work on the sugar plantations, they arrived with great hope that they would find a better life for themselves and their children in this country. The second wave of Korean immigrants arrived after World War II and the Korean War. They came in search of political and educational freedom. The third influx of Korean immigrants arrived after 1965. Many in this last group were medical professionals who came to fill the shortage of health care workers in our inner cities. Since then, others have arrived and have pursued the American Dream of owning successful small businesses. These ``mom and pop'' shops have helped to revitalize declining neighborhoods and provide an important economic stimulus in communities throughout the nation. Despite language and cultural barriers and sometimes blatant discrimination, Korean Americans--like so many other immigrants who arrive to this country--are helping to keep America strong. Toward this end, the Korean American community has shown its tremendous resiliency. Racial struggles exist in all communities. But we are obligated to reflect back upon certain tragedies as important reminders. Following the loss of life and extensive property damage in the Los Angeles riots of 1992, the Korean-American community and the Nation grieved and sought out better ways to prevent future violence. Many in the Korean-American community cite the Los Angeles riots as the historical turning point that led to the political mobilization of Korean Americans nationwide and brought about a new awareness for the need to reach out and build better relationships with other ethnic groups. Today, as we continue to heal past wounds and embrace our differences, I can say with great pride that the growing Korean American community in this country makes up a valuable, dynamic and integral part of our diverse society. Korean Americans serve in our armed services. World War II history buffs will recall the brave and heroic acts of Colonel Young Oak Kim. He became the most decorated soldier in the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team. For his bravery, he earned the Silver Star Medal for saving countless American lives. As successful entrepreneurs, Korean-American business owners contribute $45 billion annually to our Nation's economy. Korean Americans have a great influence in the fashion industry, international trade, restaurants and many other community businesses. Korean cuisine is also crossing cultural lines. Enjoyed by Americans throughout the country, kimchi, for example, is a spicy pickled cabbage that is now famous for literally bringing tears to the faint. Overall, Korean Americans have made significant contributions to this country in a wide variety of professions, ranging from the arts to medicine to the sciences. As a Nation, we are benefiting from this tremendous wealth of knowledge and talent. With nearly 2 million Korean Americans living in the United States, Korean immigration is an important part of our Nation's history and collective heritage. Like most immigrants, Koreans brought with them the deeply embedded and cherished American values of hard work, sacrifice, and respect for family, church and community. This was especially apparent at the January 13 gala dinner that I attended along with my colleague, Linda Sanchez. The beautiful affair brought to an end a year-long celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Korean Americans to this country. The Centennial Committee of Korean Immigration to the U.S. and the Korean American Day Committee are to be commended for making the celebration possible. I would like to thank both Committees for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful celebration and, above all, for their commitment to preserving the tremendous history of the Korean American community. Because of their efforts, current and future generations will have a greater awareness of the proud legacy of the Korean American community and its important contribution over the last 100 years to the beautiful mosaic that today makes up and binds our diverse and great Nation.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this extremely flawed bill. A bill that takes care of drug and insurance companies at the expense of our Nation's seniors. Instead of helping our seniors, Mr. Speaker, this bill will result in higher drug prices, increased Medicare premiums for seniors who refuse to be forced into HMOs, and the erosion of retiree coverage for over two million seniors. These are just a few of the problems with this bill, Mr. Speaker. There are far too many to name in the limited time I have. Our seniors deserve better. They have worked and sacrificed and contributed greatly to our country. We must not turn our backs on them, Mr. Speaker, with the passage of this bill. Instead let us honor our seniors by defeating this bill and coming back with a prescription drug plan that is affordable, comprehensive and guaranteed. A plan, Mr. Speaker, that protects Medicare not destroys it. Let tonight's victory be for our seniors, not the pharmaceutical and insurance companies.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Kennedy motion to instruct conferees to the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill to insist on the highest funding levels for senior nutrition programs. All of us know that the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill contains many of the most worthwhile programs administered by the federal government, and nutrition programs for seniors are just one example. As a new member of this subcommittee, I was impressed by the testimony from the Administration on Aging outlining the enormous good that these programs accomplish each year. Although Chairman Regula has often reminded us of the need to comply with budget restrictions, I believe he and the Republican members of the subcommittee know the importance of increasing funding for these programs each year in order to keep pace with inflation and to make progress in providing meals to additional seniors. In California, with an estimated population of over 35 million people, over 4 million people are 65 years or over. These seniors are served over 11 million home-based meals through Older Americans Act programs, and another 9 million congregate meals are served. These statistics are testament to the enormous leveraging effect that federal nutrition programs accomplish. As testimony by the Administration on Aging reveals, 44 percent of the cost of a congregate meal and 29 percent of the cost of a home-delivered meal comes from Older Americans Act funds--the balance comes from state, community and private contributions. Unfortunately, the demand still exceeds these combined federal and local community efforts. The need for these programs is undisputed. In fact, testimony from the Administration on Aging reveals that 41 percent of home-delivered nutrition programs and 9 percent of congregate nutrition programs have waiting lists for services. On average, local programs had 85 seniors on a home-delivered meals waiting list with a wait time of nearly 3 months. On average, local programs had 52 seniors on a congregate meals waiting list with a wait time of about 2 months. As the evidence indicates, I believe it is important that we strive to make incremental progress every year to support the goal of adequate nutrition for seniors by eliminating the waiting lists and providing meals to all seniors who need then. The differences between the House and Senate bills with regard to senior meals may appear small--about 4 million dollars out of a total of over $700 million for senior nutrition services. But we know these dollars make an enormous difference in the lives of so many seniors. I urge my colleagues to support the Kennedy motion so we can make progress again this year. Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, as we near the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I rise today to announce the re-introduction of legislation I authored to truly recognize and help the estimated two million women in this country who are victims of domestic violence. Victims of domestic violence suffer on many fronts. In addition to the physical and emotional battery, women who are abused also struggle to maintain employment and, as a result, experience tremendous financial hardships. According to a 1998 report of the U.S. General Accounting Office, between one-quarter and one-half of domestic violence victims surveyed in three studies reported losing a job due, wholly or in part, to domestic violence. For victims of sexual assault, the numbers are even more alarming. Nearly 50 percent of survivors say they were forced to leave their jobs because of the crime. Stalking victims also report losing significant time at work. There are many reasons for this volatile employment picture. Abusers often track down and harass their victims at work and may even follow them home. By creating disturbances on the job and making threats, the perpetrator may force the victim to quit or place her at risk of being fired. I was told recently of a woman named Nancy who is a victim of domestic violence in my Los Angeles district. She, like so many other women, was forced to quit her job at a fast food restaurant after her husband showed up there, pounded on the door, scratched her car with his keys and repeatedly threatened her. Nancy, whose name has been changed, sought help at a local domestic violence shelter where she received the support she needed for herself and her two-year-old child. Now, she is taking a non-violent parenting class and undergoing counseling. She also receives support in court proceedings to get a restraining order enforced, divorce her husband, and settle a child custody dispute. For Nancy, quitting her job and seeking help at the shelter gave her the support and the time she needed to get her life back in order. But many victims--especially depending upon the State in which they live-- do not feel they have the same choices as Nancy and, as a result, may not be as willing to seek help, placing themselves and their families in greater danger. That's because Federal law does not specifically allow women who leave work as a result of domestic violence to collect unemployment compensation. Nor does Federal law allow victims of domestic violence to take leave from work to deal with abuse-related priorities, such as getting appropriate medical care, victim services or legal assistance. Without these important added protections, victims of abuse who live in certain States deal with the fear that if they take time off, they risk being fired and left with no way to support themselves or their children. Given this alternative, some women may choose not to seek the help they need--or, even worse, remain in an abusive relationship. To address the inadequacy of our current laws, I have introduced the Security and Financial Empowerment Act (SAFE Act). This bill ensures that victims of domestic violence are allowed 30 days of unpaid leave from work to make necessary court appearances, contact law enforcement officials or make alternative housing arrangements, without the fear of being fired or demoted. Further, to make sure victims retain financial independence, the SAFE Act would require all States to provide unemployment benefits to women who are forced to leave work (whether they quit or are fired) because of domestic violence. To date, I'm proud to say that more than 30 States have already enacted similar provisions, including my home State of California, but a uniform national policy is needed. The SAFE Act would also provide employers with a workplace safety program tax credit as an incentive to provide employees with domestic violence safety and education programs. After all, employers also pay a high price in decreased productivity, employee absenteeism and staff turnover because of domestic violence. In fact, it is estimated that domestic violence costs U.S. employers between $3 billion and $13 billion annually. Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues to support the SAFE Act and, in doing so, help victims of domestic violence and businesses deal more effectively with this serious problem. Let's pass this needed legislation and help millions of victims of domestic violence to obtain the employment and financial stability they need to do what Nancy is doing--repair their lives and build a safe future for themselves and their families.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, due to an event in my district, I was unable to be present for rollcall votes 563-565 on Monday, October 20, 2003. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 563, 564, and 565.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, when President Bush's $87 billion supplemental request was presented to the Appropriations Committee, Chairman Young, Chairman Lewis and Chairman Kolbe had corrected a number of serious deficiencies in the President's budget request. For that reason, I reluctantly voted to support the committee bill with the hope that the serious weaknesses that still remained would be strengthened as the bill moved through the process. Unfortunately, that has not happened. Therefore, I will not support the supplemental bill before us today, because the majority has chosen to prevent the House from addressing the concerns many of my colleagues and I still have on the critical questions American taxpayers are asking. Questions such as: Are we doing all we can for our troops? How are we going to engage the international community for financial support? How are we going to pay for the $87 billion price tag and where is the accountability for this enormous and unprecedented request? The Obey amendment is the very amendment that best addresses these critical questions. Yet the House will not be allowed to vote on it. And for good reason, because if given the opportunity, the majority knows it would pass. The Obey amendment strengthens the quality of life provisions of our troops, provides accountability to the taxpayers and to Congress, and pays for the $87 billion request instead of adding it to the already enormous debt created by the misguided policies of this Administration--a debt that will be passed on to our children and our children's children. Let me briefly highlight some of the key provisions of the Obey amendment. First, the Obey amendment addresses quality of life issues for our troops by helping to correct some of the alarming conditions our troops have found themselves. For example, as reported by our colleagues who have visited Iraq, not all our fighting men and women in Iraq have purified drinking water, and many of our troops are getting sick and suffering from dysentery as a result. The Obey amendment, had we been allowed to vote on it, would have provided enough funding for purified drinking water plants so that all our troops have clean water, not just one of nine U.S. bases in Iraq as proposed by the Administration, which would leave 80 percent of the troops unprotected. The Obey amendment also shows respect and appreciation for the sacrifices made by our troops by providing reservists with pre- deployment medical and dental screening, which they now pay for themselves. The amendment also extends their health care coverage from 60 days to six months following deployments and provides for an adequate supply of prepaid phone cards so all U.S. soldiers can call home. Finally, because troops are currently required to pay their own transportation home once they have reached the U.S., the Obey amendment pays for the R&R transportation costs for troops on a 12-month deployment. Unfortunately, these important quality of life issues for our troops will not be permitted to be a part of the bill before us. Second, the Obey amendment engages the international community financially by devoting $7 billion to a trust fund at the World Bank. The advantage of the World Bank is that these funds would be conditioned on contributions of at least $3.5 billion from other nations. The accumulated $10.5 billion could then be used as security for an additional $42 billion in World Bank bonds for the reconstruction in Iraq. This would help to eliminate the drain on our own U.S. Treasury by generating the vast majority of the estimated $54 billion needed for Iraq reconstruction. Equally as important is the fact that using the World Bank would eliminate the cronyism and no-bid contracts that have been awarded to Haliburton and Bechtel with funds from the first supplemental bill. As we all know, there is still little disclosure about these no-bid contracts and their resultant long-term costs. Again, the majority has denied us a vote on this important issue. Finally, Mr. Chairman, the Obey amendment would fully pay for the $87 billion supplemental appropriation by returning the tax rate for individuals with incomes in excess of $350,000 to the level that existed in January 2001. That means that although they will not get the bonus tax cut, the richest one percent will still get the largest tax cut provided to any American. Given the sacrifices that are being made by our servicemen and women and their families, having the richest Americans do their fair share to pay for this appropriation with a smaller tax cut honors the American spirit of ``shared sacrifice.'' Yet again, the majority will prevent this House from voting on the Obey proposal that would pay for this costly appropriation. And finally, Mr. Chairman, is the issue of accountability, another key issue the House will be unable to adequately address on behalf of the American people, who have a right to know how their tax money is being spent. What makes the lack of transparency and accountability for this $87 billion even more incredible is the fact that the Administration has failed to account for the $63 billion Congress already allocated for the safety of our troops. This is critical especially when we know that the full $63 billion that should have gone for Kevlar flak jacket ``body armor'' and jammers to block the radio signals used to detonate the remote controlled bombs never reached all our troops. Why the current civilian leaders in the Pentagon failed to provide these life-saving supplies to our troops prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and even after it became apparent that these shortages were costing American lives must be answered. And it must be answered before we give Secretary Rumsfeld discretion to spend over an estimated $9 billion of taxpayer dollars without being accountable to Congress and the American people for how the money will be spent. For those who say we cannot afford to wait--that this is an emergency and our troops need these funds right away--I would direct them to the report by the Congressional Research Service on this very question. CRS states that based on the available sums provided through the regular FY '04 Defense Appropriations Bill that military operations can be sustained until early May of next year, and that the billions of dollars of unobligated funds remaining in the last supplemental appropriations also can be used to address the immediate needs of our troops. That means that we can protect our troops and Congress can take the time to get this right and have our questions answered. We do not have to hastily pass $87 billion of taxpayers' dollars in order to meet the Administration's arbitrary deadline. Since the bill before the House today leaves too many unanswered questions and because the majority has prevented this House from voting on the key policy issues that responsibly should be considered before giving away $87 billion of taxpayers' money, I believe my vote against this appropriation is a responsible vote. Hopefully, it will send a clear message to the Bush Administration that we must pass a bill giving real protection to our troops and improving their quality of life while at the same time requiring a clearly defined plan with transparency and accountability that does not saddle future generations with a huge debt that prevents us from addressing the needs of Americans in our own country.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month and to recognize the longstanding contributions that the Latino community has made and continues to make through their participation in the armed forces. New census data reports that the Hispanic community, which numbers almost 40 million, is now the largest minority group in the United States. As such, Latinos influence everyday life in the United States through their participation in every sector of our society including business, the arts, sports, government, medicine and education. Of particular significance during these trying times, is the rich history of patriotism and sacrifice that the Latino community has made by serving proudly and with distinction in every major U.S. military conflict and in all branches of our armed services. From the minutemen of the American Revolution to today's enlisted men and women in Iraq, the Latino community has a deep-rooted tradition of service in the U.S. military. Today there are 109,487 Latinos on active duty, representing approximately 9.5% of all active duty personnel. Latinos represent 9.7 percent of the Army, 10.5 percent of the Navy, 13.9 percent of the Marine Corps, and 3.4 percent of the Air Force. Latinos have been recognized for their valor and bravery in some of this country's most important military confrontations. One of the greatest sources of pride among the Latino community is the 39 Medals of Honor awarded to Latinos in recognition of their valor. They are the largest single ethnic group, in proportion to the number who served, to earn this prestigious award. During the American Revolution, soldiers from Spain, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic fought alongside the colonists for independence. Cuban women donated their jewelry to aid the colonists, helping to finance the Yorktown Campaign. In World War One, Latino soldiers were decorated with the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the Victory Medal with three bars, and the Purple Heart. During the Second World War, up to 500,000 Latinos served bravely--eleven receiving the Medal of Honor. Of particular mention is the story of Marine PFC Guy ``Gabby'' Gabaldon who single-handedly captured over 1,000 enemy soldiers in the summer of 1944, more than anyone else has in the history of military conflicts. During the Korean War, the 65th Infantry Regiment--a Puerto Rican regiment--was given special recognition for participating in nine major campaigns, capturing 2,086 enemy soldiers, and killing 5,095 enemy combatants. Individual members of this regiment were awarded four Distinguished Service Crosses and 124 Silver Stars. My family and I had personal acquaintance with a Korean War hero from my neighborhood in Boyle Heights when I was growing up in Los Angeles. Private First Class Eugene Obregon was awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save that of a wounded comrade. Fourteen Hispanics were awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Vietnam War. Navy Lt. Everett Alvarez became the first American prisoner of war (POW), and remained so for over 8 years, the longest confirmed POW in American history. The last American to leave Vietnam was Senior Master Sergeant Juan J. Valdez, who served at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon and departed by helicopter on April 30, 1975. When Iran held 52 American hostages in 1980, the Ayatollah offered to release all minorities. Marine Corporals Lopez and Gallegos refused, instead stating, ``I am an American--I am a U.S. Marine, I will be the last one to leave,'' invoking the spirit of American patriotism above all else. Today, as we wage the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Latino community continues to prove its commitment to America by serving proudly and with honor. They remind all of us, that there is no better way to demonstrate devotion to your country than the willingness to make sacrifices for it. Through their service in the armed forces thousands of brave individuals in the Latino community have proven their love and dedication to our American values of liberty and freedom for all. As we recognize the Latino community during National Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to thank the service men and women, both past and present, for their commitment and sacrifices to our country. They truly embody the spirit of pride and community that Hispanic Heritage Month is designed to celebrate.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Rafu Shimpo, a bilingual English-Japanese newspaper published, distributed, and read avidly in my Congressional District, celebrating their 100th anniversary. The history of The Rafu Shimpo is an important part of both American and Japanese American history and heritage, created in Los Angeles. In April 1903, three young men, Rippo lijima, Masaharu Yamaguchi, and Seijiro Shibuya produced the first mimeographed news bulletin to the Los Angeles area Japanese-speaking community. Its title comes directly from the community it serves--Rafu Shimpo means Los Angeles area newspaper--ra from Rashogiri, the old Chinese name for Los Angeles, fu is prefecture or area, and shimpo is newspaper. Beginning in 1914, under the new management of Henry Toyosaku (H.T.) Komai, the newspaper began to grow. In February 1926 he added an English language section with the help of a 20-year-old UCLA education major, Louise Suski. By 1932, the English section became a daily feature. On April 4, 1942, The Rafu Shimpo ceased publication as Americans of Japanese descent were forcibly removed to desert internment camps. At the end of the war in 1945, though other Japanese Americans were released, H.T. Komai continued to be detained in Santa Fe, New Mexico. But the Komai family's dedication to publishing The Rafu Shimpo persevered. H.T.'s son, Akira Komai, with a $1500 loan from three other staff members, rebuilt the newspaper. The newspaper grew rapidly after World War II, from a circulation of 500 in 1946 to 20,000 over the next 30 years. Today, H.T.'s grandson, Michael Komai, serves as the 3rd generation publisher, a position he has held since 1983. The award-winning daily has over 45,000 readers and prevails as the premier news source for the Los Angeles area Japanese American community. As part of The Rafu Shimpo's 100th anniversary celebration, an awards banquet will be held in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 16, at the Century Plaza Hotel. The yearlong anniversary celebration will also include special recognitions from the Japanese American National Museum, Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Asian American Journalists Association and Asian Business League. The 100th anniversary of The Rafu Shimpo is another milestone in the rich history of Los Angeles as well as the history of America, and I join the Los Angeles Japanese American community in celebrating this wonderful legacy.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 384 that celebrates the successful journey of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride. Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement, a broad coalition of individuals including immigrants, union officials, religious leaders, and civil rights activists set out on September 20, 2003 from ten major U.S. cities to educate the public and elected officials about immigrant rights and the injustices of our country's current immigration policies. Over the last 12 days, 900 freedom riders in 18 buses have visited more than 100 cities, towns, and work places. The freedom riders have educated communities across America about the hardships faced day after day by immigrant workers and their families. Immigrants work in every industry in America. They are construction workers, doctors, nurses, janitors, meat packers, farmworkers, engineers, and soldiers. They care for our children, tend to our elderly, pick and serve our food, build and clean our houses, and what they ask for in return is a fair and equal opportunity to achieve the American dream. Yet, our broken immigration system impedes many because they are unable to live and work freely. Far too many immigrants are exploited by their employers, separated from family, and unprotected by our laws. The Immigrant Workers Freedom Riders have renewed the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement in order to draw attention to the needs of this marginalized community. But that is not where their effort ends. They have a plan of action-- a solution to many of the hardships encountered by so many immigrants in this country. Their plan has four key proposals: a new legalization program for undocumented immigrants; the right of immigrants to reunite with their families; the protection of immigrants in the workplace; and civil rights and civil liberties for all. To bring their plan to the attention of our national leaders, the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride arrived in Washington, D.C. on October 1, 2003. I welcome, and congratulate them for embarking on this historic journey. I particularly want to acknowledge the two buses of freedom riders from Los Angeles. Several of the participants are my constituents who have taken time from their jobs and left their families and children behind in order to make the long journey to Washington, D.C. I met with a group of them on Thursday, October 2. What they told me was truly inspiring. Some have been in this country for several years while others have only recently arrived, but they all have a love and appreciation for America. They don't want or expect handouts. They believe in hard work and doing their part for our country. What they do want, Mr. Speaker, is what we all want--the opportunity to prosper and to obtain a good life for themselves and their families. They want to be full participants in every aspect of our society. I applaud the Immigrant Workers Freedom Riders and commend the organizers for helping to ensure that immigrant voices are heard. I am encouraged by the support they have garnered across the country, and I hope that their tour will serve as a catalyst for fair and meaningful reform of our nation's immigration laws. Our immigrant community deserves greater protections under the law, and Congress has an obligation to provide it. In the words of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: ``Let us therefore continue our triumphal march to the realization of the American dream . . .'' In keeping with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, we are reminded today that the struggle for civil rights continues for many. The Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride is a renewal of a struggle for fairness and equality for all. I am hopeful that my colleagues and all of America will embrace it.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Carmen Zapata--a visionary Latina whose influence is felt in every aspect of the arts. As one of the first Latinas to perform on Broadway, Carmen Zapata is an artistic innovator. An actress, producer and proponent of Spanish and English bilingual theatre, she has changed the face of culture in Southern California. A leader in the Latino and arts communities, Carmen Zapata's passion for theatre led her to co-found the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts. As president and producing director for this Los Angeles-based non- profit, she has helped produce over eighty bilingual plays across the State of California and abroad. The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts has brought theatre and entertainment into inner-city schools in my district and the greater Los Angeles region, exposing students to a new creative outlet, and providing a pipeline for young Latino talent. Ms. Zapata's dedication to the Latino community has also led her to share her knowledge and experience in teaching the craft of acting and production at area theatre programs. Furthermore, she has served on the board of a variety of civic organizations, including the United Way, the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, the KCET Community Advisory Board, and the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Committee on the Arts. Ms. Zapata is also a leader in the international Latino arts community. An honored translator of Spanish plays, she has been knighted by his Majesty Juan Carlos of Spain for her contributions to Spanish language and culture. In addition, she continues to shape Latino arts and entertainment and the next generation of Latinos with her popular PBS children's program, ``Villa Allegre.'' For these achievements, it is my great pleasure to recognize Carmen Zapata's contributions as the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honors her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On behalf of Latinos everywhere, I congratulate Carmen Zapata and thank her for her dedication to giving Latinos a voice in the arts.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very dear friend of mine, Selma Fisch, who despite being born in August celebrates her 70th birthday on September 13 because she was characteristically too busy last month. Mrs. Fisch was born Selma Schenker on August 11, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. At sixteen years old, she and her family moved to California and settled in Boyle Heights, an area that my family is very familiar with. Soon after graduating from Roosevelt High School, she met and married her husband of 51 years, Len Fisch. Selma and Len have three children--Laura Anne, William Daryl, and Lisa Kennedy. Over the years her family has grown and prospered and she is now the proud grandmother of six granddaughters and four grandsons. In 1972, she and her husband Len started a wholesale clothing company, The Clothing Game, on Santee Street in Los Angeles. A few years later, they bought and developed their first property on nearby Maple Avenue. Originally built to house The Clothing Game, the property was instead redeveloped into six individual clothing stores. The ownership of this building began their successful career as full time property managers. Their foresight and influence helped produce the now nationally famous ``Fashion Alley'', spanning Maple Avenue and Santee Street. Throughout the 80's and 90's, Selma and Len continued to buy and develop prime properties throughout the Los Angeles Garment District. During these years the area experienced such a boom that local officials and the Los Angeles Police Department struggled to provide adequate services. In response to the area's growing needs, Selma, in conjunction with other property owners, formed the Santee-Maple Alley Association to provide additional maintenance and safety officers throughout the Alley area. In 1991, working closely with my former State Assembly office and the office of the 9th Council District, Selma was instrumental in obtaining a pedestrian crosswalk for a very busy area of the Alley. Over the years, she has continued to work to ensure that the area remains attractive to consumers by resurfacing the alley hardscape, replacing area storm drains, adding attractive alley banners, and increasing the number of maintenance workers and security officers. Selma has been a member of various women's political groups, such as AIPAC and WINPAC, which serves to better the United States' international relationship with Israel, and is currently a member of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Mr. Speaker, it is my greatest pleasure to honor Selma Fisch for her years of service to our community, and to wish her a very happy 70th birthday.