Lucille Roybal-Allard

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the historic day of Cinco de Mayo. This holiday, celebrated each year on the fifth of May, is a very symbolic and cultural day for people of Mexican ancestry. Cinco de Mayo honors the 1862 victory of the Mexican armed forces against the invading French army in the Battle of Puebla, and marks an important milestone in Mexico's struggle to retain its sovereignty. It has since been a day when Latinos honor their spirit of struggle, dignity, and respect for their cultural heritage. Unfortunately, many Cinco de Mayo celebrations have been marred by violence, over-consumption of alcohol, and other serious problems. This issue is compounded by the fact that Latino communities suffer disproportionately from the negative effects of alcohol use and abuse, high rates of alcohol-related diseases and death, an inordinate number of traffic fatalities and alcohol-related driving violations, and many types of alcohol involved violence. In light of this, many persons of Mexican ancestry desire to have family oriented, alcohol and tobacco free Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Rather than partaking in festivities that continue to exploit people through the sale of large amounts of alcoholic beverages, they are choosing to focus on embracing and elevating the cultural significance of this historical event and Latinos in general. The Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco (LCAT) has joined with CalPartners Coalition and California Latino Leadership United for Healthy Communities in their statewide Cinco de Mayo 2001 campaign, ``Sembrando Nuestras Tradiciones.'' This campaign aims to make all residents of the U.S. aware of the true significance of the Cinco de Mayo, reduce the pernicious influence of the alcohol industry, draw public attention to the negative effects of alcohol use and abuse upon persons of Mexican ancestry, and promote alcohol and tobacco-free celebrations. I commend the effort of these groups and encourage people to celebrate this important Mexican holiday with dignity and respect, to refrain from immoderate consumption of alcoholic beverages, to work to promote the health of the entire community, and to reject efforts by alcohol promoters who misuse Cinco de Mayo by engaging in advertising and promotions designed to encourage heavy drinking.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to be present for rollcall votes 85 through 89. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 85, 86, and 88, and ``nay'' on rollcall votes 87 and 89.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice in honor of Cesar Chavez. The son of a migrant farm worker, Cesar Chavez was not born into greatness. However, he became a great leader in our nation's continuing fight for labor and civil rights. Cesar Chavez is best remembered as the founder and president of the United Farmworkers of America. The contributions of Cesar Chavez, however, were not limited to the fields. His voice reached the urban areas across America, particularly in the East Los Angeles neighborhoods where I was born and raised and now am proud to represent in Congress. Cesar Chavez was part of the Latino empowerment movement of the 40's. Even today his memory inspires Latinos to be activists at the community, state and national levels. Cesar Chavez understood that participation was the greatest tool to implement changes in our society. He once said, It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity. The world is a better place because of the work of Cesar Chavez. The best tribute we can pay is to find opportunities in our own lives to continue his work in the fight for civil rights, and to encourage others to join us.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, in poll after poll, the American people have stated that tax cuts should not come at the expense of Medicare. Still, the Republican budget resolution we are considering in the House this week takes $153 billion from the Medicare Trust Fund and diverts it to a new prescription drug benefit and unnamed Medicare ``reforms.'' CBO Director Dan Crippen has testified that adding a prescription drug benefit to the Medicare program could cost not $153 billion--but more than $1 trillion over the next decade. Even Energy and Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin has admitted that a prescription drug benefit for seniors will cost far more than $153 billion. We all know the problem. The Bush ``super-sized'' tax cut puts the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund in jeopardy. And Bush's oversized tax cut will squeeze out the budget resources we must have for a sorely-needed prescription drug benefit for our seniors. The working families and senior citizens in my Los Angeles district can count. They realize that the Republican budget resolution just doesn't add up. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this legislation.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in the women's caucus to add my strong support to the struggle against domestic violence. It is important for all Americans to understand we are all impacted by this violence, even if we are not directly victims. Domestic violence undermines the very foundation of our American society, the family. And it undermines our quality of life of all of us because in one way or another our society pays the price, through the increased homelessness, substance abuse, dependence on welfare, juvenile delinquency, and lower productivity in our workplaces that often results from domestic violence. These negative effects are documented by research which shows that domestic violence dramatically affects a woman's ability to work and support herself and her children. This often forces her to rely on welfare, or even worse, to return to her batterer for financial support. To help stop this cycle of violence, I will once again introduce the Battered Women's Employment Protection Act, which will help abused women retain their jobs and the financial independence necessary to escape a violent environment. This act achieves these goals by allowing employed victims of domestic violence, without penalty, access to reasonable time off from work in order to seek legal and medical assistance, make necessary court appearances, and attend to personal security. Further, to ensure that battered women can remain financially independent, it requires states to provide unemployment benefits to women who are forced to leave their work as a result of domestic violence. For women attempting to escape abuse, these safeguards are often a matter of life and death. Our society cannot afford to ignore this crisis of violence in so many of our families. Nor can we afford to continue paying the price of its ultimate consequences. I will continue to fight in the 107th Congress to get these provisions enacted into law, and I hope my colleagues and all Americans will join me.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise to in strong support of H. Con. Res 41, of which I am a proud sponsor. This resolution sends an important message of support to the people of El Salvador, who are experiencing great hardship as a result of recent earthquakes. Most of us will never know the heartbreaking trauma of losing everything important to us--possessions, homes, and especially loved ones--within a span of 30 seconds. This resolution is necessary to publicly express our country's deep sympathy for the plight of El Salvadorans and to highlight the critical need for the timely delivery of much-needed relief and reconstruction assistance from the international community. The United States is a Nation fortunate enough to be rich in resources and, I believe, rich in compassion. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage our own Federal Government and others across the Nation to join international efforts to provide El Salvador with needed resources for recovery. In this time of crisis, the Salvadorans have acted with amazing courage and strength. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in expressing our support to the people of El Salvador who are trying to rebuild their lives and their communities, by passing this resolution.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 333, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, that we will be voting on later today. We all agree that bankruptcy reform is necessary. However, the bill clearly puts creditors ahead of families. A fair bankruptcy reform bill would balance important obligations, like child support, with a creditor's right to receive payment. It would take into account the fact that most of the people who declare bankruptcy have been through trying ordeals such as divorce, unemployment, and illness resulting in exorbitant medical bills they can't afford to pay. In addition, a truly effective bill would address a major cause of bankruptcy: predatory lending. But H.R. 333 remains silent on these and other critical issues. This bill is a missed opportunity to incorporate some real protections for American families. Simply stated, it is good for credit care companies and bad for consumers. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to express my deep sadness for the passing of my friend, mentor, and fellow Angeleno, Julian Dixon. 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 served his Los Angeles-area community and the state of California as a member of the California State Assembly and in Congress with distinction. 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. When I was appointed to the Appropriations Committee two years ago, I was delighted at the opportunity to serve with Julian on the Commerce- Justice-State-Judiciary Subcommittee because I knew my staff and I would benefit greatly from his expertise and knowledge of the agencies, programs and issues that would come before the committee. Julian was extremely skillful at getting straight to the heart of a policy question. While he never hesitated to express his displeasure with any administration official--be they Attorney General or Secretary of State--he always did so in a calm, dignified and respectful manner. He did not view his role on the subcommittee as solely partisan, but rather to make sure that the government was doing its job to serve the interests of his constituents and the American people as a whole. One anecdote in particular illustrates the way Julian worked and the high degree of respect accorded him by Democrats and Republicans alike. Last year, which was my first year on the Appropriations committee, the Los Angeles police department was involved in a series of controversial shootings involving officers. Learning of the incidents, Julian immediately understood how critical it was to the future of Los Angeles and law enforcement to ensure that such shootings were thoroughly investigated. As a result, Julian worked with city officials and the district attorney's office to develop a program for ``roll-out teams'' to quickly respond to these shootings and ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. I still remember when Julian asked me to accompany him when he went to Chairman Hal Rogers to describe the problem and to ask for funding for the roll-out teams. That the chairman immediately agreed to include the funding for this critical program in the conference report is indicative of the respect with which Julian was held. I don't think Julian ever put out a press release about obtaining this important funding, but I know it has had a positive impact in helping us address one of the problems with our troubled police force. This is just one example of Julian's hard work and commitment to his community, and his ability to produce results based on his stature and respect in the House. 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. While Julian Dixon will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come as an outstanding legislator, I will remember him as a cherished friend and trusted mentor. Whether providing guidance on the rules and procedures of the House, Los Angeles politics, or committee assignments, his advice was always welcome and sound. In this time of extreme partisanship and legislative gridlock, it is my hope that we can all learn from the example of our friend and colleague, Julian Dixon. While it is clear that Julian will be dearly missed, his hard work and dedication, dignity, and bipartisan manner will serve as an enduring model to all.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in paying tribute to a friend, a mentor, and a great American, Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez. Henry B., as he was known to his friends, served his constituents and our Nation with honor, dedication, and dignity. I as a member of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services had the privilege of witnessing firsthand Henry B.'s skill and knowledge of the issues under his jurisdiction as chairman of the committee. I benefited and enjoyed the many stories he delighted in telling about his childhood and his many years in Congress, using his incredible institutional memory to make his point to the committee or to a witness. It did not matter whether that witness was a cabinet member or lobbyist, his lectures did not discriminate. Henry B. was a courageous leader, never afraid to stand up for what he believed was right, particularly when it came to consumer protection and public housing. Under his leadership, he managed and led to enactment numerous bills, including complex legislation reforming the savings and loan industry, fundamental reform of the bank regulation, and the last major public housing legislation to become law. Furthermore, as the first Hispanic Congressman from Texas, Henry B. was a pioneer who helped break down barriers and pave the way for others to follow. His success in spite of his humble beginnings gave hope and inspiration to others that they, too, could achieve their dream through hard work and commitment. At a time when the American public was growing increasingly cynical about government and politicians, Henry B. was a shining example of what was right about public service, for no one could challenge his integrity, his honesty, or his decency. Truly, Henry B. Gonzalez was a statesman who served his country and his constituents with passion, compassion, and commitment. He enriched the lives of all who knew him. I will sincerely miss Henry B. Gonzalez, and I am grateful and privileged for having had the opportunity to serve with him.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, first of all, as a member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary, I would like to associate myself with the comments that were made by other members of the committee and thank the chairman for his fairness and his friendship. That is one reason that I regretfully rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4942. Well, there are numerous problems with this bill, and I think the previous speakers have highlighted many of them. I will address one specifically glaring failure. H.R. 4942 does not include key provisions that would bring fairness and justice to thousands of immigrant families wronged by changes in our immigration laws in the 1990s, changes that have caused families to live in a state of limbo for far too long. The Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act, or LIFA as it is known, is designed to help families stay together. The importance of including the provisions of LIFA in this bill, I believe, is highlighted best in the story of Sarah Marie Caro, a young woman from Southern California. Sarah Marie Caro was born in Mexico and was adopted by her U.S.- citizen parents when she was 4 years old. She grew up as an American believing in the values of this country. She learned English, was an honor role student at her public high school and participated in the marching band. She is now 19 years old and is currently studying at a community college to become a teacher. Last year, while preparing for a family vacation, she applied for a U.S. passport. That is when her world began to fall apart. Sarah Marie was notified that she was ineligible for a U.S. passport because she was an illegal immigrant. Her parents who are U.S. citizens mistakenly thought that Sarah would automatically become a citizen through her court adoption; and, therefore, they never applied to adjust her immigration status. Sarah has the legal right to her green card as the child of U.S. citizens. But without the protections provided by LIFA, this 19-year- old tragically is left with only two options: one, to remain in the United States illegally and to be part of a permanent underground population; or, two, to leave her family and all she has known for most of her life and go to a strange country for as long as 10 years. Sarah's plight, and the plight of many deserving immigrants in this country, must be addressed. We must honor our Nation's values of keeping families together, not tearing them apart. To address the crisis facing families like Sarah Marie, and there are many, it is critical that this bill include the provisions of LIFA, such as 245(i), which was originally in the Senate version of the Commerce, Justice bill and dropped in conference. Until then, I regretfully must ask my colleagues to vote no on H.R. 4942.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I oppose H.R. 2614. This bill includes both the balanced budget act giveback plan as well as the Republican's tax cut proposal. Both of these provisions were negotiated behind closed doors and without consulting either Democrats or the Administration. While there are many problems with this legislation, I am extremely disappointed that it does not include the Commerce Committee-approved provision giving States the option to provide basic health care coverage to legal permanent resident children and pregnant women. The 1996 Balanced Budget Act mandated that lawfully present children and pregnant women who arrived in the U.S. after 1996 must wait five years before they can apply for basic health care. As a result, this vulnerable population cannot obtain proper health treatment such as preventive and prenatal care. Making health care available to this group, through Medicaid and the State children's health insurance program, is simply good public policy. It would provide critically-needed health services to 144,000 children and 33,000 pregnant women per year--children and mothers who have followed the rules, paid taxes, and are in this country legally. We cannot let these children and mothers down by excluding this critical, bipartisan measure. Unfortunately, the Republican-negotiated package does just that. As Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and as a Member who represents a large Hispanic community, my top priority is to advocate for the fair treatment of all hard-working, tax-paying families, including legal immigrants. Denying health care coverage to legal immigrants is not fair treatment. For this and other reasons, I cannot support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 2614 and work to craft a true bipartisan package that includes the restoration of health care for legal immigrant children and pregnant women.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for yielding the time to me. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller), the ranking member of the Committee on Resources, and the gentleman from Utah (Chairman Hansen) and the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero- Barcelo), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, for bringing H.R. 5083 to the floor. This legislation addresses an urgent need for hundreds of children who attend Tweedy Elementary School in my congressional district. As the gentleman from Utah (Chairman Hansen) mentioned, in 1988 the Los Angeles Board of Education closed Tweedy Elementary School in South Gate, California, due to health risks from environmental contamination at the school site. Consequently, the school was moved to South Gate Park located on Federal land, until a new school could be built. To enable Tweedy Elementary students to attend school in their community, Congress approved a lease, at fair market value, between the city of South Gate and the Los Angeles Unified School District. The current lease, as was mentioned, is going to expire this fall. Mr. Speaker, since L.A. Unified is still in the process of replacing Tweedy Elementary, this bill extends the current lease 4 years to allow L.A. Unified time to construct the new school. As a condition of the extension, the bill requires a school district to provide progress reports twice a year to the City of South Gate, to Congress, and, most importantly, to the parents of Tweedy students. With no available alternative site, passage of this measure is essential to ensure that the children of Tweedy are not evicted and their education is not disrupted while LAUSD constructs a permanent replacement site. For the children of South Gate, I urge my colleagues to pass this critically needed legislation. I would like to thank the gentleman from Utah (Chairman Hansen) for his support of this very important measure.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate the Friedman Bag Company for over 70 years of continuous operation in my congressional district and to highlight its leadership as a responsible corporate citizen. In 1927, four Russian immigrant brothers started a small bag manufacturing company in the heart of Los Angeles. Sam, Saul, Harry and Morris Friedman fled Imperial Russia with their family in search of freedom, settling temporarily in Mexico until they were granted permission to enter the United States. Over the years, Friedman Bag Company grew almost as quickly as the city around it. In many ways, the founding and growth of Friedman Bag Company personifies our nation's immigrant experience. The company was born from an immigrant family's dream to provide their children with a better life. The Friedmans succeeded, eventually becoming one of the largest suppliers of textile and polyethylene bags in the West. Their bags were primarily used for agriculture products such as Idaho potatoes, walnuts and other crops such as carrots and lettuce from the Central Valley of California. But like many manufacturing companies in the United States, fierce competition from lower cost producers, in countries like China, eventually threatened the survival of Friedman Bag Company. To endure, the company needed to change and adapt to the new economy, and the successful effort was led by two sons of the founding members. Friedman Bag Company desperately needed to invest money in new equipment. Company workers were still sewing burlap and mesh bags by hand. Morale and sales were suffering. Having never taken on debt financing in its history, the company embarked on a somewhat radical and risky venture to make sure it could remain competitive. Working with a financial institution that recognized its special history as a family business, and overcoming internal and external challenges, Friedman Bag Company secured the resources to continue its operations in the 33rd Congressional District. Friedman Bag Company also worked with the Mayor and City Council to consolidate operations, ultimately bringing more jobs to Los Angeles. An article which appeared in the Los Angeles Times on May 26, 1999 and documents this important success story follows these remarks. Today, Friedman Bag Company employs more than 250 people, with operations in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The company's morale has soared as its future prospects have brightened. Friedman Bag Company is now firmly-positioned so a third generation of the Friedman family can continue the dream started by their family's ancestors. I am proud of Friedman Bag Company's long tenure in southeast Los Angeles. Their efforts to modernize and adapt to an ever-changing economy in order to stay competitive are to be commended. Many men and women in my congressional district have worked at Friedman Bag Company, supporting their families and contributing to our community. I congratulate Friedman Bag Company for over 70 years of success which has epitomized the contributions to America made by our immigrant community, and I wish them many more years of successful operation to come. I submit the following article into the Record. [From the Los Angeles Times, May 26, 1999] When Debt Proves To Be Best Answer (By Cyndia Zwahlen) Long debt-free Friedman Bag Co. turned to bank loans when it didn't have the money to cover shareholder buyouts and upgraded technology. Pressure from more than 30 family shareholders to sell Friedman Bag Co., against the wishes of company management, was threatening to destroy the value of the closely held Los Angeles company founded by three brothers in 1927. The far-flung shareholders, only one of whom worked at the company, wanted to cash out their shares. Management, including two sons of the founders, was desperate to invest the money in equipment needed to bring the company into the 21st century. Company workers were still sewing burlap and mesh bags for the agricultural industry by hand. Printing presses were slow and inefficient. Morale and sales were suffering. ``It was like a tug of war,'' said Harvey Friedman, chief executive and son of one of the retired founders. As the debate intensified, rumors that the company was going out of business began to fly. Friedman Bag didn't have the money to cover shareholder buy-outs and new technology. The shareholders weren't interested in a note--a written promise to pay them in the future. And sale of the company's real estate wasn't an option because of the huge tax bill that would result, Friedman said. For the first time in more than four decades, the company was forced to consider going outside for financing. It's a classic dilemma for a family business. The conflicting demands on company funds of growth or expansion and shareholders buyouts or dissolutions can push the most debt-averse company to seek outside money, particularly if buyout funding isn't covered by insurance or some other previous arrangement. Perhaps it's the founder who wants to cash out, or an owner dies and there are estate problems. Or an owner without an heir interested in the business may want to sell the company to the employees through an employee stock ownership plan. ``Growth, liquidity, unexpected dissolutions that can disrupt the business are needs for financing,'' said Alfred E. Osborne, director of the Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at UCLA. A business typically has two options when it comes to outside money--taking on debt through a bank loan or selling a stake in the company to an equity investor. Friedman Bag, like most family businesses, chose debt, unwilling to deal with additional shareholders and their demands. The company polled its industry contacts for potential lenders. After being debt-free for decades, it found itself being wooed by more than 20 banks. Friedman and his managers decided on Imperial Bank in Los Angeles for several reasons. They got a speedy response and a loan package that covered their needs: an equipment line of credit, a term loan to buy out the shareholders and an asset- based line of credit to pay for growth. The bank's enthusiasm for the company's prospects sealed the deal. ``When you borrow money, you want to feel like the bank is excited about your new venture and not that they are doing you a big favor,'' Friedman said. All things being equal, he'd just as soon lend to a family business, said Imperial Bank Executive Vice President Duke Chenoweth, who grew up in a family with a business. ``A family will generally put everything they have on the line to uphold the integrity of that family business and the family name,'' he said. In addition to a potentially deeper level of commitment than an absentee owner or a group of professional managers, a successful family business often has a built-in successor, important for management continuity, Chenoweth said. And if worse comes to worse, often the retired founder can be relied upon for emergency guidance or deep pockets. Bank debt isn't right for every family business, of course. A company has to be able to generate enough cash flow to repay the debt, which naturally limits how much money a company can borrow. Although it's not as common for a family business, an outside equity investor can also provide needed cash. The downside is that most equity investors are institutional investors who typically expect a return on their investment within three to five years. That's not practical for many family businesses. ``It would be a mistake to say private equity has no place in family business, but it would only be under specific circumstances where the family is willing to provide a liquidity event,'' said Jourdi de Werd, a managing director and co-founder of investment bankers Greif & Co. of Los Angeles, one of several corporate sponsors of the Family Business Program at USC. A family that is contemplating a transition to more institutional ownership or a founder that wants to take capital out of the business might turn to an outside equity investor, said de Werd, who also Friedman offered several tips for family businesses thinking about outside financing. He echoed the advice of several bankers when he suggested family businesses limit the number of family members working at the company. Bankers worried about the toll of inflated salaries. Friedman was more concerned about a company's need for broad skills and the potential impact on the family itself. ``Success is a blend of family members and outsiders,'' he said. ``If there is too much family, then you have a lot of internal problems that are brought home.'' In addition to good-quality management, what else are bankers looking for? Organized and complete financial statements, according to Henry Walker, senior vice president at Farmers & Merchants Bank in Long Beach. The quality of your record keeping is a reflection of how you manage your business, he said. Assessing management and financial strength is a two-way street, Walker said. Is the lender you are considering strong enough to weather an economic downturn without jeopardizing your loan? ``It's a long-term relationship you're looking for, and you shouldn't lose track of that because of a point [of interest] here or there,'' he said. Planning company strategy before seeking outside money is also important, Friedman said. Friedman Bag invested in an intensive total quality management program and months of planning before it landed its bank loan. When the money arrived, the equipment purchases and a move into a new facility were completed within just three to four months of the shareholder buyout in early January. This week the new eight-color press goes online with triple the capacity of its predecessor and a setup time of 45 minutes compared with the five hours if used to take. Friedman Bag Co. has come a long way from its modest beginnings collecting, sorting and reselling burlap bags used on farms in the 1920s. Today it employs more than 250 people and has operations in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. It supplies packaging and equipment to the agricultural industry and sandbags to the U.S. military, among others. Employee morale has soared along with the company's new prospects. The third generation, including Friedman's son, a company vice president, has a future to look forward to, according to Friedman. ``We are a totally different company today,'' he said. ``A new Friedman Bag Co. was born on Jan 5, 1999.''

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the 150th anniversary of the statehood of the great state of California. On this historic occasion, is it fitting that we taking a moment to observe and celebrate the diverse and distinct cities and communities throughout our state. The district that I am proud to represent and call home is the 33rd Congressional District of California. The 33rd Congressional district is a vibrant, diverse area encompassing metropolitan downtown Los Angeles, including Boyle Heights, Little Tokyo, Pico Union, and portions of Chinatown, Filipinotown, Koreatown, and Westlake. The suburban portions of the district include the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood, South Gate, and Vernon and parts of East Los Angeles, Walnut Park and Florence. The 33rd Congressional district houses the civic center of Los Angeles, including the area's courthouses, Los Angeles City Hall, the offices of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Unified School District, Metropolitan Transit Authority, and Immigration and Naturalization Service. In addition, the 33rd Congressional district boasts a multitude of cultural attractions and resources. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Shrine Auditorium, Latino Museum, Chinese American Museum, Japanese American National Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art are located in my congressional district. In addition, the new Our Lady of the Angeles Cathedral is being built in the center of downtown Los Angeles. Our community also reflects the rich history of the state of California. The district is home to such historic sites such as Union Station, Olvera Street Plaza and the Broadway theater district. In fact, on September 4th of this year, the city of Los Angeles celebrated its 219th birthday. The residents of 33rd Congressional district reflect the wonderful diversity of our State. There is a mixture of newly-arrived immigrants families and a strong, established Hispanic community. Ethnic enclaves, like Chinatown, Koreatown, and Japantown, house specialty stores and restaurants that cater to the area's thriving Asian community. Recently, the 33rd Congressional district proudly hosted the Democratic National Convention. The convention gave Los Angeles and its residents an opportunity to showcase our city to the hundreds of thousands of visitors as well as the millions who watched the proceedings on television. The DNC took place at the recently-opened Staples Center, which also serves as the home for the Los Angeles Kings, Lakers and the Clippers. I am extremely proud of all that the 33rd Congressional district has to offer and delighted to sing its praises on the 150th birthday of our great state, the State of California.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4892, the Scouting for All Act and I commend my colleague, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, for authoring this bill and taking a strong stand against intolerance. The Boy Scouts of America have a long history of promoting social and civic responsibility among our nation's youth and I commend them for this. However, I am extremely disappointed in their decision to exclude potential members solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. I support the right of private groups to determine their membership. However, since Congress would neither endorse nor charter any group that discriminates against Latinos, African Americans, women or people with physical challenges, just to name a few, Congress cannot in good conscience continue to tacitly endorse the Scouts' discriminatory policy. We believe discrimination against any of these groups is wrong and most of us here would stand up and demand that discriminatory policies be ended. The Boy Scouts must be held to the same standard and therefore Congress has the moral responsibility to revoke the group's Congressional charter. We must remember, that discrimination is always wrong, whatever form it takes. Whether it's the policies of the Boy Scouts, a corporate employer or a social club, Congress must not condone discrimination. We must lead by example and we must send the message that Congress will not tolerate nor endorse such policies targeted at any group. I support this bill, and I urge each of my colleagues to do the same. Congress must not lend its seal of approval to any organization which discriminates.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I commemorate the dedicated public service that Pauletta Smith has given the City of Los Angeles. Ms. Smith started her career with the City of Los Angeles on November 27, 1962 as a Clerk Typist with the Los Angeles Police Department. Two years later, she moved to the Bureau of Street Lighting and was promoted to Senior Clerk Typist. In 1975, Ms. Smith returned to the Police Department with the promotion to Personnel Aide and soon thereafter was again promoted, this time to the position of Exam Assistant. Due to her excellent work ethic and can-do attitude, Ms. Smith was again promoted to Administrative Aide in 1981 and, after only two short years, promoted to Administrative Assistant in 1983. Subsequently, her career carried her to the City's Department of Public Works, Department of Transportation, the Department of Telecommunications and the Department of General Services. Pauletta Smith's diligent work was noticed in every assignment and in 1996 she transferred to the Office of the City Administrative Officer Emergency Preparedness Division as a Management Analyst II. She became an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator in October 1998 to oversee Citywide contingency planning for Year 2000 from which she is now retiring. Ms. Smith has been an asset to her community, and I wish both her and her family as she joins others an active and enriching retirement.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate James T. Sobject for his 28 years of exemplary service with the city of Los Angeles. Prior to beginning his career with the City of Los Angeles in 1972, Mr. Sobject served two years in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Military Police Sergeant with security assignments in West Germany and at the Military Academy at West Point. He was then assigned to the City as a Junior Administrative Assistant in the Elections Division of the City Clerk's Office, where he was soon after promoted to the Assistant Elections Supervisor. In 1975, Mr. Sobject was promoted to Senior Administrative Assistant in the Bureau of Sanitation, of the Public Works Department, where he supervised the Administrative Services Section of the Sewage Treatment Division. Two years later he joined the Office of the City Administrative Officer as an Administrative Analyst, and was assigned as liaison analyst with responsibilities for the Harbor Department and the Department of Water and Power. In 1978, Mr. Sobject was promoted to Senior Administrative Analyst and for eight years he was the lead analyst on the Police Department budget. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Municipal Facilities Construction Program and the City Hall Seismic Rehabilitation Project. Mr. Sobject was next promoted to Chief Administrative Analyst in 1997 with the responsibility of supervising the Public Safety Budget Group that which includes Police, Fire, Animal Services, and Building and Safety Department budget liaison assignments. Not long afterwards, Mr. Sobject was assigned to supervise the CAO's Finance Group which is responsible for citywide revenue forecasting, budget coordination and administering the City's automated budget system. For his work in the CAO's Finance Group, Mr. Sobject received special recognition from Mayor Richard J. Riordan for his ``hard work, dedication, and extraordinary professionalism,'' with respect to the annual budget process. James T. Sobject has been a valuable member of our community and praiseworthy civil servant. Mr. Sobject deserves our thanks for his dedicated service to the City of Los Angeles. I wish him and his family the best and I hope that he enjoys the active retirement which he so richly deserves.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the Home Ownership Tax Credit Act (HOTCA). This bill will help address a crisis in home ownership among low-income Americans. The booming economy has helped boost the national home ownership rate to a record high level. However, home ownership among low-income households, minorities, women and families living in rural areas still lags behind. Although the national average of home ownership is 67%, only 45% of low-income families own their homes. While present Federal policy promotes home ownership for higher income families by allowing taxpayers to deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes, it does little to help low-income families achieve home ownership. The deductions of mortgage interest and real estate taxes benefit almost exclusively middle and upper-income Americans. In fact, only 10% of these tax benefits go to home owners who make less than $40,000 a year. Rental assistance is available for poor families through a variety of federal subsidies (primarily HUD's Section 8 program), but there's little help for low to middle income families who want to make the transition from renters to home owners. This legislation will lend a hand to our hard-working families so that they too can achieve home ownership. By leveraging private resources and without creating new programs or bureaucracies, this bill will help hundreds of thousand of families finally realize the American dream of home ownership. This tax credit tackles the two leading obstacles of home ownership: affordability and lender risk. First, many low income families simply cannot afford the monthly mortgage payments and initial downpayment for even a modest home in their area. The home ownership tax credit addresses this ``wealth hurdle'' by offering interest-free second mortgages to the low-income buyer. This is critical because this second mortgage will reduce the buyer's down payment and monthly mortgage costs by as much as 30%. Second, lenders are often reluctant to make so-called ``risky'' loans due to fear of foreclosures. By lowering the loan amount needed for the first mortgage, the home ownership tax credit reduces the risk for the lender. Similar programs implemented in North Carolina and New York have already proven successful in increasing homeownership for low-income families and jump-starting formerly distressed neighborhoods. It's time we take this program nation-wide and help families throughout the country achieve the American dream of owning their own home. I urge my colleagues to join me and co-sponsor the Home Ownership Tax Credit Act.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I regrettably rise in opposition to H.R. 4871. I would have liked to have supported this bill, because I believe the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) crafted the best bill possible under the tight funding constraints that he was given. The bill does, for example, fully fund most of the key law enforcement activities of the bill. However, this bill falls woefully short in other critical areas. As the gentleman from Arizona himself has stated, this bill is $175 million short of what is needed to maintain the current level of services and activities provided for under our subcommittee's jurisdiction. For example, the underfunding of the IRS by $466 million completely jeopardizes the ability of the IRS to make the changes necessary to improve services and to protect the rights of American taxpayers as required by law. Another glaring deficiency in the bill is the total lack of funding for the construction of critically needed Federal courthouses. The Federal war on crime and drugs has increased to the breaking point the workload of our Federal courts, resulting in the need for more judges and court employees. Yet our court facilities have not come close to keeping pace with this growth. As a Member who represents the Los Angeles Federal Court district, the largest in the Nation, covering seven counties and over 17 million people, I know firsthand the severity of this problem. The Los Angeles court, which is at the top of the GSA and Judiciary's priority list, continues to operate out of the original courthouse built in 1938. The lack of adequate space has forced the court to split its operations between the original facility and one several blocks away, causing long delays, inefficiencies, and mass confusion to the public. More importantly, the current situation causes security to be insufficient to protect workers and the public. Prisoners facing trial, for example, must be transported between the two court facilities by using public corridors and public elevators. In fact, the U.S. Marshals Service documented critical security concerns with the current facilities in Los Angeles, including life-threatening security deficiencies. These conditions are simply unacceptable. Congress must act to correct these serious security deficiencies before they result in a terrible tragedy. Finally, from a fiscal perspective, it is irresponsible not to fund these badly needed new courthouses. According to GSA, the delaying funding for new courthouse projects increases costs by an average of 3 percent to 4 percent a year, meaning that the Federal Government will have to pay significantly more for the same projects in years to come. These are just some of several reasons I cannot support this bill. I sincerely hope that as we move through the process, additional funding will be added to this bill to ensure that our core government functions are adequately funded. Until that time, however, I must regrettably oppose this bill.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4430, to rename the United States Post Office in Fulton, Maryland, as the ``Alfred Rascon Post Office Building''. As a recent recipient of the Medal of Honor, there is no one more deserving of this honor than Alfred Rascon. Alfred Rascon is an American hero who holds a special place in the hearts of Hispanic-Americans. An immigrant from Mexico, Rascon enlisted in the Army at age 17 because he wanted to serve his adopted homeland. Mr. Rascon, who served as a medic in Vietnam, braved machine gun fire and grenade blasts to treat wounded soldiers. He twice jumped on top of wounded soldiers to protect them from grenades. In so doing, Rascon was shot in the hip and wounded by shrapnel when a grenade exploded in his face. Despite his injuries, Rascon grabbed guns and ammunition to give to U.S. soldiers so they could continue holding off the attack. His patriotism and courage are an inspiration for all Americans. Although Rascon was immediately recommended for the Medal of Honor, his paperwork was never forwarded up the chain of command. Instead, he received the Army's second most prestigious award, the Silver Star. In 1993, his fellow soldiers learned that he was never awarded the Medal of Honor and petitioned the Army Decorations Board to consider the case. Finally, in November of 1999, after more than 30 years of waiting, Defense Secretary Cohen approved Rascon for the Medal of Honor. I was extremely proud to be present at the White House ceremony in February when Mr. Rascon was presented this award. Alfred Rascon now lives in Laurel, Maryland with his wife and two children. Naming the Post Office in this community after Mr. Rascon is a fitting honor and will remind the residents of Laurel of his extreme courage and patriotism and will serve as an example for future generations.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, due to a family health emergency in Los Angeles, I was not present during the House's consideration of the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill, last week. However, I was recorded as voting on an amendment to this bill offered by Mr. Collins of Georgia. The mistake was fortunately caught by the diligent staff of the Minority Leader. Nevertheless, members should be aware that although the digital voting system used by the House of Representatives is very reliable, it is not perfect. I have been assured by both the Chairman of the Committee on House Administration and the Clerk's Office that they are thoroughly investigating the incident and that it does appear to be a true statistical anomaly which is unlikely to occur again. I would like to thank the Chairman and the office of the Clerk for their quick attention to this matter as well as the staff of the Minority leader, who first discovered this error and brought it to the attention of the Clerk. Finally, while I was mistakenly recorded as voting ``aye'' on the amendment, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay''.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, due to a family health emergency, I was unable to be present for rollcall votes 292 through 321. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 292, 293, 294, 296, 297, 298, 300, 301, 304, 307, 313, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and ``nay'' on rollcall votes 295, 299, 302, 303, 305, 306, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 314, and 321.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. One hundred percent of fees that are paid by applicants are retained in the Patent Office; is that correct?

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, let me go on to talk about the importance of the office. There is a shortfall of funding for the work that needs to be done, and that is a very real part of this debate. Increasing patent approval times, if in fact that approval time is threatened, that in and of itself can and will have a crippling effect on what we call the new economy. You cannot leave out of this debate what this new economy is producing for our Nation. The high technology and biotechnology sectors of our economy depend on prompt and high- quality patents and trademarks to protect their investments in research and development and new product production. Venture capital funding for start-up companies depend on timely patent protection and can dry up because patent times continue to soar. The result will be a bureaucratic bottleneck that chokes off the development of new breakthroughs of all kinds of things that every single Member of Congress hails and supports. While for some this may be a little known office, the PTO is the backbone of the new economy. Many Members have talked about other agencies, Commerce, what Chairman Greenspan relies upon statistically. I would like to suggest that those statistics will not be available for use if in fact these patents cannot be approved. We have to look at what is fueling and what is the backbone of this new economy. I know that the Coble amendment restores $134 million in user fees. Finally, we need to broaden this debate and understand that this feeds intellectual property. This new economy is all about new ideas. It is about America's intellectual property; it is about ideas. They need to be funded, and we should not abort the investment that the ideas represent.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. I would ask, are 100 percent of the user fees that are paid by applicants to the PTO remaining for use in the Patent Office?