Lucille Roybal-Allard

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3005, the ``Fast Track'' Trade Promotion Authority bill and in support of the Rangel substitute in the motion to recommit. As a member of this House and as a member of the California Assembly prior to my election to the House, I have been a long-time supporter of free trade policies. As a Californian, I understand very well the many advantages that come from open markets, the lowering of tariffs, and the elimination of other trade barriers that prevent American products from competing on a level playing field in overseas markets. American workers are the most productive workers in the world, and consumers around the world desire quality American products. I strongly believe that given a level playing field, American companies will thrive in overseas markets. I am also well aware of the value of open markets to American consumers. Americans are shrewd consumers. Their open-minded attitude in considering and purchasing quality goods produced in other countries instills competition in both American and foreign companies which, in turn, lowers prices for American families and increases their real income. Knowing the many benefits of increased trade between the U.S. and other countries, I voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and for many years, I have supported legislation to increase trade, such as ``most favored nation'' status for China. I did so because of promises made to address the negative impacts of free trade agreements on U.S. workers and industries. However, once the trade agreement passed these promises were ignored and forgotten. Since the passage of NAFTA, on numerous occasions, I have loudly voiced my concerns to Cabinet officials and trade negotiators about the necessity to live up to the promises to help displaced workers. One such promise was the establishment of the Community Adjustment and Investment Program--CAIP--which was intended to provide financial assistance for American companies located in NAFTA trade-affected areas. In practice however, CAIP did little to help these companies. In fact, CAIP was never of any assistance to the garment industry located in my district, which experienced enormous job losses after the passage of NAFTA. CAIP's overly stringent eligibility requirements completely overlooked textile manufacturing companies too small to qualify or who did not meet the job loss threshold requirements. This essentially makes the CAIP program meaningless and ineffective. Meanwhile, last year the Los Angeles Times reported that employment in the Los Angeles garment trade dipped below 100,000 for the first time since NAFTA was enacted in 1994, with nearly 13,000 jobs lost since 1997 alone. The jobs lost have almost exclusively been blue- collar sewing jobs. Knowing that adequate and appropriate safeguards are not currently in place to help our nation's displaced workers, I cannot support extending Trade Promotion Authority to the President. I also cannot support this bill, because it does not sufficiently address my growing concerns regarding issues of labor standards, environmental protections, and congressional oversight on trade negotiations. I regret that the Rules Committee has recommended a closed rule on this bill specifically blocking Democrats from offering amendments to address the concerns regarding this bill. However, while I will oppose the Thomas bill, I will support the Rangel substitute in the motion to recommit. The Rangel bill includes provisions that address many of my concerns about labor rights, environmental protections, and congressional review. First, the Rangel substitute sets out clear negotiating objectives for labor standards. The Rangel substitute forbids slave labor, and outlines strict rules on the use of child labor, and on the freedom of workers to associate and bargain collectively. The Thomas bill, in contrast, has no requirement that a country's laws include any of the five core International Labor Organization standards. Second, the Rangel substitute sets out clear negotiating objectives for environmental standards. The Rangel substitute would commit countries to enforcing their own national environmental laws and prevent them from waiving existing standards for the purpose of gaining a competitive advantage. The Thomas bill does little to ensure that environmental rules established by Multilateral Environmental Agreements have equal status to other provisions of trade agreements. Third, the Rangel bill ensures a continuing and active role for Congress in setting U.S. trade policy. It does this by replacing the ineffective mechanisms included in the 1988 ``fast track'' law with a procedure for structured biennial review of ongoing trade negotiations subject to fast track. It also gives Congress an opportunity to pass a resolution of disapproval if the U.S. decides to inaugurate a new regional or multilateral trade negotiation. The Rangel bill helps to ensure that Congress is an active participant in important negotiations. The Thomas bill's approach is to view Congress as an occasional consultant. In short, although it is not perfect, I believe the Rangel substitute addresses most of the legitimate concerns that have been raised about the negotiation of free-trade agreements. Free trade agreements and free trade policies are desirable goals, but we should never forget that they also impact many Americans adversely. By requiring implementation of labor and environmental standards, together with the active involvement of Members of Congress both Republican and Democratic administrations are likely to construct trade policies consistent with our principles as a society. The Rangel substitute is the best vehicle for achieving this goal. I urge my colleagues to support the motion to recommit and oppose the Thomas bill.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3210, the Terrorism Risk Protection Act. It is true that certain key industries, including insurance companies, have been negatively impacted by the tragic events of September 11 and legitimately deserve assistance from the American public. While the bill before us today provides some genuinely needed relief for the insurance industry, unfortunately it fails in other important ways. First, instead of keeping the bill focused on providing a federal ``safety net'' for insurance companies in the wake of the September 11th attacks, the Republican leadership has included provisions that limit the rights of victims to pursue legal action as a result of any future terrorist attacks. These last-minute tort reform provisions include a complete ban on punitive damages, limits on non-economic damages, and caps on attorney's fees. These restrictions are not only unwarranted and unrelated to this bill, but they will severely limit the ability of victims to obtain any reimbursement they are due as a result of negligence. These provisions were not included in the bi- partisan bill approved by the Financial Services Committee and are completely unnecessary and unrelated to the insurance relief provided by the bill. Next, I believe that in granting government assistance to any sector, Congress must take positive steps to ensure that these companies follow responsible and fair business practices by providing affordable, quality services to the American taxpayer. In the case of the insurance industry, companies have a responsibility to make insurance coverage available at affordable rates to those who need it. History indicates that it is common for insurers to increase the cost of policies after major catastrophes, whether these are weather-related, riot-related or other events. Therefore it is conceivable that insurers may use the tragic events of September 11 to raise rates, withdraw from some markets, and try to shift risk onto the government. As data from the California Department of Insurance shows, lack of affordable insurance is a serious problem for many communities, especially low and moderate-income communities and communities of color, such as in my Los Angeles-based Congressional District. When uninsured or under-insured buildings suffer damage in these communities, oftentimes they are not repaired or replaced. As a result, the property owner suffer financial losses and the community is exposed to social and economic instability. Homeowners, renters and business owners are all at risk. Since the taxpayers are assuming the risk to prop up the insurance industry, Congress must put into place protections to insure that Americans have access to affordable, high quality insurance coverage for their homes and businesses. Establishing requirements for insurance companies to publicly report the availability and affordability of their policies is a key component of these protections. Such public disclosure will inform Congress and the American people about the fairness of various insurance policies. In addition, the insurance industry should be required to invest in low-income neighborhoods and minority communities. Because of the Community Reinvestment Act, banks have been required to invest in low- income neighborhoods and have found significantly financial opportunities in these communities. Investments such as these are particularly critical to struggling communities in the current difficult economically times. However, as the data from the California Department of Insurance and the California Reinvestment Committee shows, insurers have essentially balked at making significant contributions and investments in these communities. I am submitting this data for inclusion in the Record. Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, the bill before us is fatally flawed. It insures that the insurance industry is protected while leaving too many Americans with little or no assurance of either affordable, quality insurance coverage or corporate investment in their communities. I urge my colleagues to reject this flawed bill and pass a measure that insures protection for the American public not just the insurance industry. California Reinvestment Committee--Insurance Investment Issues In 1999, Californians paid $81 billion in insurance premiums. Of those premiums, $36 billion were for property and casualty insurance coverage. According to the 1998 California Insurance Commissioner's Report on Underserved Communities, only 6.43 percent of 1997 California property and casualty insurance policies were in the 138 underserved zip codes identified by the Department which represent 15 percent of the state's population. (This is the most recent report available.) In 2000, the California Organized Investment Network (COIN), an investment unit of the California Department of Insurance designed by insurers, had only $108 million in investments, which represent 0.13 percent of 1999 insurance premiums paid by Californians. In 2000, COIN had less than $5 million in insurance investments, which represent 0.01 percent of California insurance premiums.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in support of H.R. 2722, the Clean Diamonds Act, to ensure that America, the largest importer of diamonds in the world, helps to eradicate the purchase and sale of illicit diamonds around the world. For the last eight years, a rebel group known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has used the illegal trade and trafficking of diamonds to fund a civil war in Sierra Leone. This brutal war has garnered the attention of numerous international human rights groups for its incessant violence and human rights abuses. An estimated 12,000 children have been separated from their families for the sole purpose of becoming soldiers and diamond miners. Women and girls are raped or used as sexual slaves by the top commanders of the rebel army. Boys and girls alike live in fear of having one of their limbs hacked off with machetes--one of the most notable forms of torture used by the rebel groups. These and countless other unscrupulous acts have severely destabilized Sierra Leone and other African countries, including Angola, the Congo and Liberia. To make matters worse, recently we have learned that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network is also linked financially with the diamond trade in Sierra Leone. The same revenue collected by conflict diamonds to fund wars and illegal weapon sales in Africa is being used by the terrorist network, which carried out the unconscionable attacks on America on September 11th. The violence and suffering fueled by the trade and sale of diamonds has been carried on too long. America must do its part to help end these atrocities once and for all. First and most importantly, we as a nation need to make more informed purchasing decisions about the diamonds we buy. Just as we have taken steps to eradicate slave labor in manufacturing sweatshops, we must guarantee that our demand for diamonds does not contribute to a cruel and destructive war against innocent children and families. We must ask questions and seek assurance from our retailers that the diamonds we buy this holiday season and beyond are in no way connected to this illicit trade. Second, even the most discerning consumers can unknowingly and unwillingly purchase diamonds illegally traded on the world market. Therefore, we need to find a way to keep these conflict diamonds out of our stores. The Clean Diamonds Act will do just that by authorizing the President to prohibit the importation of diamonds from countries that are not willing to adopt an international diamond certification system that will track diamonds from the point of extraction to retail sale. Under this international system, exporting countries would be required to provide a certificate of origin and authenticity, indicating that their diamonds were not mined or laundered by rebel groups in Africa. America buyers could then shop with confidence, knowing that their diamond purchases were in no way contributing to civil war in Africa or terrorist activities against the United States and its allies. Mr. Speaker, just as we have all united to put an end to the terrorist networks that exist around the world, we should also unite to put an end to the trafficking of these conflict diamonds and the cycle of violence they perpetuate in Africa and in our own backyard. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 2722.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2500, the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriations Conference Report. I'd like to thank our Chairman, Frank Wolf, and our Ranking Member, Jose Serrano, for putting together such a fair conference report under the significant funding constraints faced by the Committee. As my colleagues know, one of the most critical functions of this bill is to provide resources for our law enforcement to assist them in enforcing the laws of our nation and keeping our citizens safe. The CJS bill contains the majority of funding for federal law enforcement personnel, and funds critical grant programs which get the resources out to the local law enforcement agencies which work so hard to keep our communities safe. While we know that additional resources will be needed in the future, the bill provides significant funding to make sure that our federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border Patrol, have adequate funding to do their jobs in light of the tragic events on September 11th. I am particularly pleased that the bill provides important, much-needed increases for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, including an increase in the number of border patrol agents and INS inspectors, while at the same time dedicating an additional $45 million above base funding in order to tackle the existing backlog in the processing of immigration cases. While I am pleased with the overall bill, I am disappointed that the Senate provision permanently extending Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act was not included in the final conference report. 245(i) allows certain eligible immigrants to apply for green cards in the United States, rather than returning to their home countries to apply. Without Section 245(i), people fully eligible for green cards will be forced to return to their countries of origin and barred from returning to the United States for up to ten years--ripping families apart and causing many employers to lose qualified and well-trained employees. The issue is not whether these immigrants are eligible for legal residence, nor when they can adjust, but rather from where they can apply to become permanent U.S. residents. As my colleagues know, the LIFE Act, which passed last year, provided a window of just four months for people to file applications with the INS or Department of Labor. For various reasons, thousands of qualified immigrants were unable to benefit from this short extension by the April 30th 2001, deadline. In the rush to apply, many eligible applicants had their files returned by the INS because of technical mistakes after the deadline expired. In addition, many immigrants did not have their papers filed properly, or even at all, by unscrupulous individuals purporting to be immigration lawyers. Many members, including myself and the membership of Congressional Hispanic Caucus, believe that Congress should pass a permanent extension Section 245(i). While some may disagree with this view, it is clear that some sort of extension is long overdue. President Bush, the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have all publicly supported an extension of this important provision. The Senate passed a compromise extension of 245(i) more than 2 months ago, and the House was set to vote on this legislation on September 11th. It is my sincere hope that the leadership of the House will re- schedule a vote on this critical legislation as soon as possible. I look forward to working with Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Serrano to ensure that an extension of 245(i) is passed before Congress adjourns for the year. Mr. Speaker, having expressed my concern about the omission of section 245(i), let me now focus on some of the positive aspects of the bill and why I will support it. For example, I am very pleased that the conference committee was willing to provide funding for a variety of initiatives and projects that are of importance to Los Angeles and California. The Los Angeles Conservancy works with a variety of community interest groups and developers on rehabilitation and restoration projects. The funding in this bill will assist the L.A. Conservancy with their renovation of historic St. Vibiana's Cathedral. In addition, the conservancy's Broadway Redevelopment project will rehabilitate a number of theaters in the historic area of Los Angeles. Both projects fit into an exciting downtown redevelopment plan that is strengthening the economic foundation of this once neglected area of downtown Los Angeles. In addition to economic development funding, I am also pleased by the number of projects that have been included to help our nation's kids through the Department of Justice's juvenile justice programs and community-oriented police (COPS) programs. In Los Angeles, several groups that are working with teenagers will receive support for their promising efforts. The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU) operates a family-based gang violence prevention program, Project JADE--the Juvenile Assistance Diversion Effort--is a well-regarded community-based organization working to expand its juvenile crime prevention program. Para Los Ninos provides intervention for first-time juvenile offenders and their families, including after-school programs for at-risk youth. Another program included in our bill is LA's Best, a nationally recognized afterschool program which operates in schools throughout the city of Los Angeles. I was also pleased to work in cooperation with Governor Davis and Republican and Democratic members of the California delegation to acquire funding for other projects of regional and statewide importance. One of the proudest achievements of the California delegation is a project that honors the longtime service on the Commerce-Justice-State Subcommittee of our late colleague, Julian Dixon. Funds are provided to assist Julian's law school alma mater, Southwestern University School of Law, with construction of its state-of-the-art Julian Dixon Courtroom. The courtroom will facilitate the teaching of advocacy and litigation skills. It will also provide Southwestern, which serves a significant populace of minority law students, with a community resource for jurists and lawyers. The university has committed to a better than one to one match for the federal funding. Mr. Speaker, there are not many issues where 100 percent of the diverse 52-member California House delegation come together, but support for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program is one of them. A united and unanimous delegation is responsible for seeing that $565 million was provided for this important program that reimburses California and other impacted states for the costs associated with incarcerating illegal aliens. Several other California projects also received attention. The California Center for Integrative Coastal Research, CI-CORE, is a new research initiative pulling together the strengths of several California State University campuses, including San Jose, San Francisco, Hayward, Monterey Bay, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and San Diego. With the increased burden placed upon California's coastal resources due to agriculture, industry and urban development, better understanding of the oceans and our coastal region is imperative in making informed commercial, recreational and environmental policy decisions. CI-CORE will provide timely, indispensable and appropriate environmental data to regulatory agencies that are responsible for the development and enforcement of management policies. The University of California's textile research program will receive funding and designation as one of the member institutions of the National Textile Consortium (NTC). California is the leading manufacturer of apparel in the U.S. and is the largest employer in the apparel and textile trade, yet until now, no California university was included in the NTC. The inclusion of its research program, whose strengths include polymer science, fiber mechanics, fabric performance, and fashion theory, is long overdue. The California Spatial Reference Center at Scripps Institute will also receive special attention. The center's research and activities support an accurate spatial reference system in California that is integral to decision-making by policy-makers at the local, state and federal level. As California faces significant seismic and geologic activity each year, an up-to-date spatial reference system is central to our ability to perform environmental monitoring, manage our civil infrastructure, and respond appropriately to emergencies of all kinds. And finally, a modest amount of funding is provided to support the Central California Ozone Study. This study is being conducted to understand the relative role of local emissions and transported pollutants on air quality. The study is a collaborative effort by the California Air Resources Board, local governments, and industry, and has already received over $8 million in state and local contributions. In light of the change in federal air quality standards for ozone, the deregulation of utilities in bringing new power generation to California, and the on-going process of developing State Implementation Plans for air quality, the Central California Ozone Study is a vital ingredient to ensure the cleanest air possible for all Californians. I have enjoyed working with our chairman, ranking member and all the members of the Commerce-Justice-State-Judiciary Subcommittee this year on the wide variety of programs and agencies within our jurisdiction. Our work is a constant balancing act, but I believe a good balance has been achieved. I urge support of the conference report.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, due to a scheduling conflict on the morning of November 7, I was not present for rollcall vote 429, on H.R. 2998, to authorize the establishment of Radio Free Afghanistan. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on this legislation.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, the House of Representatives prides itself on being ``the people's House'' and on doing ``the people's work''. Since the attacks of September 11, the American people have made it abundantly clear that they want their federal government to take the lead in making our country safe. We have a bi-partisan bill that passed the Senate 100-0 that is critical to our reaching that goal. Unfortunately, this bill has been held hostage for three weeks by a handful of members of the Republican leadership who, until today, have blocked a vote on this critical legislation. The Democratic bi-partisan substitute will among other things put the federal government in charge of airport security including the federalization of security screeners. This bill has the endorsement of my Los Angeles mayor, Jim Hahn, as well as the endorsement of the entire U.S. Conference of Mayors. It's time for Congress to listen to the American people and make our skies safe again by passing the Democratic Substitute.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2311, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2002. As a new member of the Energy and Water Subcommittee this year, I enjoyed working with Chairman Sonny Callahan, ranking Member Peter Visclosky and the other subcommittee members in support of projects and activities that are important to California and the nation. Although more than two-thirds of the spending in our bill is for the Department of Energy, the important work done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation demands much of our attention as our constituents request funding that will help our ports, waterways and communities. In Los Angeles, a project to deepen the main channel of Los Angeles Harbor is key to economic activity throughout southern California. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have increased container traffic by 40 percent in just one year, and it is expected to double again in the next 10 years. I am pleased that our bill contains $2.825 million to complete the pre-construction, engineering and design for this important project and immediately move forward to the construction phase. The Energy and Water Appropriations Bill has also provided a mechanism for solving a severe problem affecting the drinking water supply for millions of southern Californians. Last year, the San Gabriel Restoration Fund was established in order to assist the San Gabriel Water Control Authority and the Central Basin Municipal Water District with cleaning up contamination in the groundwater basins they administer. Unfortunately, $23 million sat in the fund all year while contamination seeped into the Central Basin from the San Gabriel Basin at a rate of nearly three feet per day. Working with Congressman David Dreier, we included statutory language that will permit clean-up of the San Gabriel and Central Basins to get underway almost immediately. We will accomplish this by transferring administration of the San Gabriel Restoration Fund to the Bureau of Reclamation, which is better suited to administer grants for these clean-up activities. Clean drinking water is far too important to my constituents and other southern Californians to let bureaucratic hang- ups get in the way, so I am pleased that this project can now begin to move forward. The Title XVI projects administered by the Bureau of Reclamation are also very important to southern Californians. These projects, where costs are borne primarily by the local water authorities, have been one of the keys to enabling southern California to grow over the past 15 years without requiring any additional supplies of water. By taking water that has already been used by residences or businesses and treating it again, this water can then be used for any industrial or municipal use that doesn't require drinking grade quality. Although the treatment costs can be considerable, this still saves businesses money when they use the recycled water for industrial purposes, and they enjoy the water supply reliability that results from this process. Many municipalities are also investing in recycled water to cut their costs by using reclaimed water to keep parks and golf courses green. Nearly one-third of Los Angeles County's water is recycled now, and with sufficient investment, that percentage can grow further, providing significant help with our water supply needs. I am pleased that $740,000 is included for the Los Angeles Area Water Reclamation/Reuse Project, and a number of other southern California projects are also going forward with funds in this bill. Another key to clean drinking water for southern Californians is a clean Colorado River, which is a major source of drinking water for the entire southern California region. Within the Department of Energy, $2 million has been included to begin clean-up of a uranium mine tailings site in Moab, Utah that is perilously close to the Colorado River. This project is long overdue. Fortunately, no contamination has been detected in the Colorado River, but if it was to occur, the clean-up would be far more costly than removing the pile of tailings. The impact of commercial marine activity, flooding, and dispersal of pollutants from contaminated coastal sites upon the southern California shoreline is of enormous importance. The Corps of Engineers has been given $400,000 to complete a study of the Los Angeles County shoreline and to determine any needs for beach nourishment based on erosion and other factors. The scope of the bill's funding for programs of the Department of Energy is very wide and include activities vital to our national defense such as uranium facilities maintenance, nuclear waste disposal and funding for the new National Nuclear Security Administration which works to keep our nuclear stockpile safe. We also provide funding for important energy supply activities such as research into renewable energy technologies including biomass, biofuels, solar energy and wind energy. These energy sources will play a significant role in meeting the nation's energy needs of tomorrow. I also want to take particular note of the extensive research that is conducted by our national energy laboratories, including the Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories in California. Whether it is high-energy physics, nuclear physics or basic energy sciences such as materials, chemical, engineering and geosciences, these laboratories are on the cutting edge of scientific breakthroughs. Our national laboratories are a valuable national resource. My only regret in the bill is that we didn't do more for non- proliferation activities. I supported the effort made by Congressman Chet Edwards at the House-Senate conference committee to provide additional resources for our non-proliferation program. The report issued by Howard Baker, Lloyd Cutler, and Sam Nunn on the DOE's nonproliferation programs with Russia said: The most urgent unmet national security threat to the United States today is the danger that weapons of mass destruction of weapons-usable material in Russia could be stolen and sold to terrorists or hostile nation states and used against American troops abroad or citizens at home. Unfortunately, the conference amendment to transfer funds from some of our nuclear maintenance programs to this non-proliferation effort was unsuccessful. However, I am glad that House and Senate leaders of the Energy and Water Subcommittee gave their commitment to pursuing significant funds in a supplemental appropriations bill to address this continuing threat to the security of the U.S. and the world. It has been a delightful and satisfying year working with Chairman Callahan and Ranking Democrat Visclosky, and I look forward to years of service on this subcommittee and to working with these important agencies as they carry out their missions in service to our nation.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues to condemn the oppressive rule enforced by the Taliban regime against women. I thank Congresswoman Millender-McDonald, co-chair of Women's Caucus, for her leadership in bringing this issue to the attention of all members of Congress. Ms. Millender-McDonald has been a long time advocate for the equal and fair treatment of women both here in the United States and abroad. Mr. Speaker, the Taliban are a repressive and regressive force in Afghan society. They rule their country in complete defiance of the 1977 Afghanistan constitution--denying both men and women the equal rights this document specifically grants them. Under the Taliban regime, women, in particular, suffer extreme oppression. They are isolated in their homes and barred from going to school, working, or even walking outside unaccompanied. They are required by the Taliban never to enter public places without being completely covered. The windows on their houses are also covered or painted so no one may see them. They live their lives in semi-darkness; faceless and powerless. Those who violate the rules of conduct are beaten or brutalized by roving bands of Taliban police. This oppression of Afghan women not only compromises their value as human beings, but undermines Afghan society by denying it the talents and contributions of its women. In fact, prior to Taliban rule Afghan women were counted amongst the country's leading doctors, lawyers, teachers and political leaders. The contributions they made to their communities were invaluable. In addition, as the primary caregivers in families Afghan women are responsible for instilling values and a sense of right and wrong in their children. By demeaning women, the Taliban regime is indoctrinating new generations of children, boys and girls alike with a belief that is counter to a set of values that we all hold dear. It is important for Afghan mothers and grandmothers to provide inspiration and hope for a better quality of life to their children, and that begins with their own fair and just treatment. If not, what message are these children being sent when their government demeans and represses those who are at the very heart of family life? What vision for the future can we offer these innocent children? Mr. Speaker, the reality is that if we want to build a world where freedom, democracy, and equality are respected tenets, then women have to be equal partners with men in all aspects of life. Women all over the world, including Afghanistan, value the opportunity to contribute their special talents and ideas with their communities. Therefore, we should join them as allies in their struggle for a social climate where equality for both Muslim men and Muslim women is respected. Finally, I want to clearly state that the blame for the continued discrimination Afghan women face is not in Islam, but on the non- Islamic nature of the Taliban regime. Progressive based Islamic traditions have been tossed aside by the Taliban government and replaced with an extremism that is a distortion of true Islam. The United States Congress must condemn the treatment of women in Afghanistan in the name of justice, peace, equality and freedom. It has been too long since Afghan women have enjoyed the rights common in so many other areas of the world. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan will contribute to establishing a stable and progressive Islamic regime that values women and permits them to contribute positively and equally to a better tomorrow for the citizens of Afghanistan and future generations.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in the Women's Caucus and add my strong support to the struggle against domestic violence. October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is an opportunity for us to remember those who have been victims of abuse, to support those who are survivors, and to assist those who labor on a daily basis to put an end to this horrible violence. While the devastating physical and emotional consequences of domestic violence have been well documented, less attention has been paid to the economic reasons women stay victim to their abusers. Far too many victims remain in abusive relationships because of their inability to financially support themselves and their children. Lack of affordable childcare, inaccessibility to job training and healthcare programs, and low wages are a few of the obstacles women face when they wish to leave an abusive home. Those who are able to find employment often find it difficult, if not impossible, to keep a job because of the consequences of domestic abuse such as: lower productivity, reduced attendance, and the higher risk of insurance and healthcare costs to employers. In addition, employed victims of abuse live with the added fear of losing their job if they take time off from work to seek help for themselves and their families. Unfortunately, current law does not specifically allow women to take leave from work to effectively deal with the abuse in their lives. Nor does the law often allow women who leave work as a result of domestic violence to collect unemployment compensation. These realities faced by abused women often hinder their ability to seek or maintain employment. As a result, far too many women are left with the terrifying choice of staying with their abusers or becoming homeless, often with their children. In fact, the Downtown Women's Center of Los Angeles recently conducted a needs assessment among 400 homeless women in Los Angeles. Of those interviewed, 58.5 percent had experienced domestic violence in their lifetime, and 39.5 percent had experienced domestic violence as recently as the previous year. To address the needs of victims of abuse, I have introduced the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act in the House of Representatives. My legislation is specifically designed to help victims of domestic violence retain their employment and financial independence, by ensuring that they are allowed to take time off from work to make necessary court appearances, seek legal assistance, contact law enforcement officials or make alternative housing arrangements, without the fear of being fired or demoted. Further, to ensure victims can retain the financial independence necessary to leave their abusers and avoid having to rely on welfare or become homeless, my bill requires states to provide unemployment benefits to women who are forced to leave work as a result of domestic violence. This legislation currently has the bipartisan support of 106 of my colleagues in Congress. Obviously, we cannot legislate the problem of domestic violence away. An important step we can take, however, is to create a system that gives women a fighting chance to remove themselves and their children from abusive environments. As a nation, we must develop and implement laws that provide the support necessary to ensure the safety and security of our most vulnerable citizens. No woman should ever have to choose between physical safety or financial security for herself or her family.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2454, to name a Post Office in Los Angeles, California after my friend, mentor, and fellow Angeleno, Congressman Julian Dixon. And I commend my colleague, Congresswoman Diane Watson, for sponsoring this fitting legislation. I had the privilege of knowing Julian Dixon for many years, including the years he served with my father, Congressman Edward R. Roybal, in the 1970s and 80s. Julian Dixon's achievements during his nearly three-decade tenure as a legislator are too numerous to recount. He was chairman of the House ethics committee, maintaining bipartisanship on a traditionally partisan committee. A fighter in the struggle for civil rights, he brought that commitment to his chairmanship of the District of Columbia Appropriations subcommittee where he was a strong advocate for the rights of DC residents. Recognizing his leadership capabilities, Julian was elected Chairman of the influential Congressional Black Caucus in the 1980s. More recently, he served as ranking democrat on the prestigious and demanding Select Intelligence Committee. While Julian accomplished many great things during his tenure in the House of Representatives, his first and most cherished priority was always his constituents and his Los Angeles-area community. Whether it was fighting for emergency funding for Los Angeles after the riot in 1992 and the Northridge earthquake in 1994, or advocating on behalf of the Los Angeles public transportation system, Julian Dixon was a devoted and effective legislator. His constituents and community will continue to benefit from his great legacy of service for many years to come. I can think of no more appropriate tribute than to have a community institution, such as this post office, named after Julian Dixon--for Julian was and continues to be a true institution in his community and throughout our great state of California.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the contributions Latinos have made and continue to make to our richly diverse national culture. From agriculture to commerce, from the arts to sports, from government to medicine, Latinos are a significant part of everyday life in the United States. Latinos contribute to the vitality of our Nation's economy through traditional work in the field of agriculture, to jobs in the manufacturing arena, to service in Federal, State, and local governments. Latinos are leaders in our labor unions, and in government, and are among America's most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. One clear example of the economic contributions of Latinos to America is illustrated by the Census Bureau's most recent report, which found that Latinos own the largest share of minority-owned businesses in the country--1.2 million to be exact. As some of our Nation's most ardent patriots, Latinos have served proudly and with distinction in every major U.S. military conflict and in all branches of our armed services. 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 of who served, to earn this prestigious award. Latinos have a long history of leadership in support of the rights of the oppressed: supporting civil rights leaders, to helping influence policies that seek to ensure fair and equal treatment for all persons in our Nation. They have been leaders in extending the Voting Rights Act to areas where Latinos and others have historically been discouraged from voting as a result of discriminatory practices. During the latter half of the 20th century, Latinos joined other Americans in advocating for the desegregation of our nation's schools; today Latinos are fighting for our Nation's children to receive a quality education. Over the years, Latinos have served their country in the halls of local State and Federal Government. For example, Florida sent the first Latino to Congress in 1822, by electing Joseph Marion. In my home State of California, Romualdo Pacheco served as the first native-born Governor in 1875. Currently, Latinos hold over 5,000 elected positions nationwide. In closing, it is important to note the tremendous contributions Latino women have made to our country. Contributions like that of Luisa Capetillo and Lucia Gonzalez Parson who fought with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and other suffragettes to secure a woman's right to vote; and contributions like that of Delores Huerta who was instrumental in helping Cesar Chavez organize migrant farm workers in California in the 1960s; Dolores is still a leader in the United Farm Workers of America in California. Let's not forget the contributions of Ellen Ochoa who became the first Latina astronaut in 1990; and Antonia Novello our Nation's first female Latina Surgeon General. Also, let us not forget the countless other Latinas, who with women of all races, are the silent heroines working everyday to keep families centered and strong in their roles as, wife, caregiver, provider, mother, and grandmothers. I am proud of the diversity of the 33rd District of California, and I am proud to represent one of the largest concentrations of Latinos in the entire country. Encompassing downtown Los Angeles and a number of municipalities in southeast Los Angeles County, my district is representative of the wealth of diversity within the Latino community. My constituents' roots stem from all over Latin America and the Caribbean, including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Cuba. Coupled with the other wonderful races and groups I represent, this wonderful kaleidoscope of cultures contributes to making California the most diverse State in the union an integral component of our great country. During Hispanic Heritage Month, we proudly recognize Latinos for their contributions to this great country; not only for the contributions of today, but also for those accomplished throughout American history. Now and long ago, Latinos have taken their place among the leadership in family, business, politics, education, sports, science, and the arts. As a result, our Latino heritage is a thread interwoven into the fabric of a greater America.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, on September 21, Congress approved the Air Transportation Stabilization Act to provide $15 billion to help stabilize our nation's airlines, save jobs and moderate the negative economic impact of the September 11 attack. Helping our ailing aviation industry was important; helping the workers affected by the economic impact of this national tragedy is equally as important. Over 100,000 people who worked in the airline industry have become unemployed as a result of the terrorist attacks, and even more are expected to lose their jobs in the future. If Congress does not act quickly, these men and women will be unable to pay for the necessities of life, such as food and rent. These workers need help now. I encourage the leadership to work with Democrats, who have a plan to provide retraining programs, health insurance, and unemployment benefits to displaced workers and their families. This proposal will give critically needed assistance now, while providing workers with the tools necessary to find new employment and rebuild long term economic security for themselves and their families. I supported the Air Transportation Stabilization Act not only because it was needed to help stabilize the airline industry and our economy, but also because congressional leaders committed to quickly bring forth legislation to address the needs of displaced workers, who deserve the same attention and quick action Congress gave to the aviation industry. The time has come to make good on that promise.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Air Transportation System Stabilization Act. This is far from an ideal bill, because it does not address the crisis faced by tens of thousands of air travel industry workers who have also been devastated by the terrorist acts of September 11. But as we know, America is in crisis and these are not ideal times. The fact is that our aviation industry is a vital part of a strong and robust economy and it is facing unique and dire consequences as a result of the recent brutal terrorist attacks on our nation. It is therefore important that Congress take action now to stave off the financial calamity facing this industry and the resulting impact it could have on the entire nation. This bill, however, must only be the first step. To succeed in strengthening our economy, it is essential that we address the needs of related businesses, and America's hard working men and women, who have also been devastated by the tragic events of September 11. Just as we are helping our ailing aviation industry today, we must also help the tens of thousands of workers affected by the economic impact of this national tragedy. We must provide assistance to workers who have lost or will lose their jobs because of the crisis--assistance such as worker retraining programs, health insurance and unemployment insurance. It is only because Congressional leaders have committed to quickly bring forth legislation to address the needs of workers that I will support this legislation. And I challenge our leaders to keep their word. Mr. Speaker, America's workers deserve the same quick attention we are providing the aviation industry today. We must answer this moral call and come to their aid.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in the House and Senate in support of H.J. Res. 64, to authorize the use of our Armed Forces against those responsible for the recent terrorist attacks against the United States. Passing this resolution and sanctioning the use of our courageous armed forces is not something we do lightly, hastily, or in pursuit of vengeance. Putting the men and women of our military in harm's way is a grave decision that should only be resorted to when no other course of action is appropriate. This resolution is a deliberate, well-considered, and I believe proper response to the deplorable acts of terror committed against our country, our people, and indeed, the entire civilized world. Passing this resolution demonstrates to our country and to all the nations of the world our united resolve to punish those responsible for these heinous acts, and more importantly, ensures that perpetrators of terror are not allowed to continue their campaign of violence against innocent persons both here and abroad. Mr. Speaker, by passing this resolution we send this critical message to our military: We stand behind you as you prepare to defend our country and the ideals of freedom and democracy, for our citizens and the world community.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in strong support of this resolution expressing heartfelt condolences to the victims and families directly impacted by yesterday's horrific acts of violence and in condemning the cowardly acts of terrorism against our country. These acts were intended to shatter the very foundation of American society, but instead this violence has highlighted the fact that we Americans are strongest and most united in the face of adversity. This is evident as we watch the heroic effort of the men and women who are valiantly responding to help the victims of these murderous acts, and it is evident in our Nation's resolve and unity to find and to punish those responsible for these unconscionable acts of violence against innocent Americans. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the victims, and I assure them that we as a Nation will not rest until the enemies responsible for this attack upon our country and, indeed, democracies everywhere have been brought to justice.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in reluctant opposition to the Ganske-Dingell-Norwood-Berry Patients' Bill of Rights. We missed an enormous opportunity today, because H.R. 2563--the Ganske-Dingell bill--could have been the giant first step to bring much-needed reform to our current health care system. Simply speaking, the current system is stacked against patients, placing important decision-making authority in the hands of corporate bureaucrats. Today, we had the opportunity to give back the power to patients and their doctors. Instead, the Republican-controlled House chose to adopt changes that have put patient protections in jeopardy. By stacking the deck against patients in the appeals process, and by placing caps on damages, we avoid providing any meaningful remedy to those who are injured by a negligent HMO. We essentially turn the system on its head and assume that the doctors and patients are the guilty ones, unless they can prove otherwise. Mr. Chairman, I represent a district that is 87% Hispanic. Recent studies tell us that two-thirds of privately insured Latinos are enrolled in managed care. The Ganske-Dingell-Norwood-Berry reform bill could have had a tremendous positive impact on my constituents. And it could have helped ensure that people across the country, such as my constituents, had better access to prescription drugs, emergency care and medical specialists. But we have fallen short today. I certainly hope that at conference we can make improvements to this bill that will put patients before the insurance companies. If we succeed in addressing the unfairness in this bill, we can then take the next step to address the needs of countless numbers of low-income workers who have no health coverage whatsoever; and the 1.2 million eligible adults and children in California who, according to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, do not access California public health care programs. To truly reform health care in our nation for all Americans, we must continue to work to extend coverage to the working poor, and to ensure that those who are eligible for existing health care benefits receive them. Adequate, affordable, and accessible health care should be a right, not a privilege. The House had the change to take a significant step forward today in addressing the health care problems in our nation. But instead of taking a step forward, we have taken a step backward.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict in my Congressional District on Monday, July 23, 1 was not present for rollcall votes Nos. 257-259. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three votes.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I greatly appreciate the past support of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies for programs that assist communities and industries adversely impacted by foreign trade, communities such as those in my own district where the textile and apparel industry has taken a significant hit from foreign competition over the last decade. This has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs to Mexico, China, and other countries. The National Textile Center, administered by the Department of Commerce, helps to counter the negative impact of foreign competition through research that supports state-of-the-art manufacturing in our domestic textile and apparel industry. Incredibly, the University of California, with an internationally recognized textile science program, is not a member of the National Textile Center consortium. As a result, it has been unable to obtain grants from the National Textile Center for its important research. What makes the exclusion of the University of California even more surprising is the fact that California is the second largest textile- and apparel-producing State in the Nation, the leading manufacturer of apparel in the United States, having produced $13 billion worth of goods last year alone. And nationally, California is the largest employer in the apparel and textile trade, employing over 144,000 Californians. If the National Textile Center is to be truly national, its membership should not be limited to eastern and southeastern institutions alone. Textile manufacturing in California is very different, and the emphasis of the University of California's research programs differs from that of these institutions. As one of the leading manufacturing States in the country and a significant contributor to our Nation's economy, California's institutions are more than worthy of membership in the National Textile Center consortium. I look forward to working with the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf) to implement a true national program that supports the textile and apparel industry throughout the United States.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for providing me with this opportunity to report to our colleagues on how we have responded to this disturbing incident. I very much appreciate the gentleman's willingness to work with me to ensure that DOE's security procedures are not only effective, but that they are also in keeping with our American values against discrimination.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) on the subject of security procedures at the Department of Energy headquarters. Members of this House were appalled when they learned about the incident involving our colleague, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu), at the Department of Energy headquarters a few weeks ago. The gentleman from California had been invited by DOE to be a guest speaker at a celebration honoring the contributions of Asian Pacific Islander Americans to this country. But when he arrived at DOE headquarters, he was refused admittance and asked three different times whether he was an American citizen, even after producing an official card identifying him as a Member of Congress. An Asian American aide accompanying the gentleman from California (Mr. Wu) was also refused admittance, despite producing a congressional identification card. As the representative of the 33rd Congressional District of California, I am proud to represent an active community of Asian Pacific Islander Americans in Los Angeles. Understandably, we were very upset at this incident and the implication of discrimination by an official government agency. I, therefore, want to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) for including language in our report expressing the committee's concern about this incident and asking DOE to examine its security procedures in light of it.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Mr. Berman, to congratulate Governor Davis on the first annual Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning, funded through the Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism (GO SERV). Cesar E. Chavez, a civil rights leader and community servant, committed his life to empowering people. He championed the cause of thousands of farm workers in order to improve their lives and communities and to work for social justice. Chavez believed that service to others was a way of life, not merely an occupation of an occasional act of charity. He forged a legacy of service, conviction and principled leadership. Californians celebrate and learn about the life and works of Chavez annually through civic engagement. On March 30, 2001, the Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism commemorated the first annual Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning by involving K-12 students in service and teaching children about the life and work of Cesar E. Chavez. Individuals, business and community members, teachers and school children came together to perform meaningful service projects to honor the principles by which Chavez conducted his life. GO SERV awarded grants to 71 projects which performed community activities, such as community garden projects, mural painting, theater/teatro performances, environmental restoration projects, community beautification activities, and agricultural/ farmworker projects. As a result of these partnerships, over 300,000 students engaged in service activities to honor Cesar E. Chavez. One striking example was a program in Orange County. At the Orange County Cesar Chavez Day initiative, over 500 4th grade students participated in gleaning fields and harvesting crops. All of the food gathered was donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank which distributed the food locally. Over 25,000 pounds of cabbage, radishes, carrots, onions, romaine, iceberg and butter lettuce was gathered as a result of the program. In addition to gathering food, students planted over 800 seedlings. In June, the program will engage over 400 additional 4th grade students in the program to harvest crops for donation to the Food Bank. The activities are a fitting introduction for students to the life and work of Cesar E. Chavez. Another program called Barrios Unidos, a nonprofit organization dedicated to violence prevention, developed Cesar Chavez service clubs to commemorate Cesar Chavez Day. Barrios Unidos commemorated the day in seven sites statewide including Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Salinas, Fresno, Santa Monica, Venice, and San Diego. Through these Cesar Chavez clubs, youth participated in community beautification projects while learning about the life and values of Chavez. In Santa Monica for example, people joined to celebrate the day by cleaning up Virginia Avenue Park and painting a 20-foot long mural depicting city life. GO SERV worked in conjunction with Senator Richard Polanco's office, the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, the Chavez family, and the Department of Education to promote the first annual Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning. We are proud of the undertakings of the first annual Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning and look forward to continuing to seeing the impact GO SERV will have in our community while commemorating and teaching Californians about the legacy of Cesar E. Chavez.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, due to an unavoidable meeting on Thursday June 21, I was not present for rollcall vote No. 177, on Representative Slaughter's amendment to increase funding for the NEA and the NEH. I am a strong supporter of both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and had I been present, I would have voted yea on this important amendment.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule for the supplemental appropriations bill because the Rules Committee failed to protect several key amendments--including the Inslee/Pelosi amendment and the Eshoo amendment--and have prevented us from acting on California's emergency needs today. There is the mistaken belief by some that the recent action by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has solved California's energy concerns. But the FERC decision falls far short of what is needed in California. For example, because FERC based the price caps on the most inefficient operators, Californians will continue to pay high energy costs. Further, FERC does not address the price gouging that has already taken place. Therefore, it has no provisions for the $6 billion in potential illegal overcharges that have been referred to FERC for action. These two concerns would have been appropriate for the House to consider today, but the Rules Committee has prevented us from taking up two key amendments that would have addressed them. Essentially, the Republican leadership has decided that the big electric generators can continue to make windfall profits at the expense of business and residential customers across California. The impact of this price gouging on the jobs and lives of my constituents has already taken a toll. L.A. Dye & Print Works Incorporated, one of southern California's largest textile firms, employing 700 people, closed its doors at the end of April. There natural gas costs had soared from about $120,000 per month to over $600,000 per month--that's five times higher than their costs at the start of 2000. Some have argued that this crisis is one of California's making, but California has stepped forward vigorously to meet this challenge. We were one of the most energy efficient states--now we've cut energy use by 11 percent during this crisis to become the most energy efficient state in the union. We've acted to bring additional generating capacity on line as quickly as possible, and 16 major power plants with a generation capacity of over 10,000 megawatts have received siting approval. Ten of these power plants are currently under construction, and four are scheduled to be on line this summer. But we have immediate problems because as many as 30 days of rolling black-outs have been predicted for this summer. The impact of black-outs will be severe on families suffering through California's 100+ degree days without air-conditioning. The impact will also be severe on the senior citizens who have medications that need refrigeration. Our businesses and manufacturers face unpredictable electricity shortages, requiring them to shut down operations during black-outs and send workers home. And let's not a forget a black-out's impact on our public safety officials--our police officers, fire fighters and emergency medical personnel--as they try to cope with a community whose stoplights are suddenly out of order, or whose emergency communications system is inoperative. We are facing an emergency in California, and that is why we wanted the House to consider emergency provisions today during consideration of the supplemental appropriations bill. This emergency in California is quickly spilling over to other western states and eventually will make its way to states across this nation. As the 5th largest economy in the world, California's energy crisis is having an enormous detrimental impact on the nation's economy. Unfortunately, we have heard the message from the Republican leadership to the 33 million citizens in California and Americans across this country loud and clear. That message is: we won't discuss your emergency, we don't care about its impact on California and the nation, and therefore we will not support relief for your businesses and citizens. By preventing amendments affecting millions of Americans from even being debated and voted on, the leadership of the House of Representatives turns their back on every American they have sworn to serve.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, President Bush's energy plan fails on several counts, but I am particularly concerned about the fact that it completely ignores the immediate need for a short-term response to the energy crisis that is negatively impacting California. Businesses are closing, Mr. Speaker, and people are losing their livelihoods and their ability to provide for their families. For example, L.A. Dye & Print Works Incorporated, one of southern California's largest textile firms employing 700 people, closed its doors at the end of April. Their natural gas costs had soared from about $120,000 per month to over $600,000 per month--that's 5 times higher than their costs at the start of 2000. Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that this crisis is not just a California crisis, but one that is spilling over to other western states and to states across this nation. In spite of this reality, pleas to the Bush Administration and to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to implement temporary cost-based pricing, which would stabilize energy prices while still allowing generators and marketers to make a healthy profit, have fallen on deaf ears. At a time when forecasts predict that prices may hit $3 per gallon in California and New York this summer, the Administration's only solution is to drill for oil in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This approach ignores the fact that drilling in Alaska won't produce a barrel of oil for a decade, when Americans need relief now. Mr. Speaker, the Administration's plan is also short sighted in that it fails to adequately support other important energy initiatives that would provide our nation with a well-balanced and comprehensive energy plan. This is demonstrated by the Administration's 27% cut in energy efficiency programs and 26% cut in renewable energy programs. Americans want the President to stop the power generators from raiding their pockets and to stop catering to his friends in the oil industry. Americans need the President to put together a national energy policy plan that addresses both the short- and long-term needs for everyone in this country. Americans need a plan like the Democratic energy plan, which provides assistance for business and consumers without compromising our nation's fundamental values.