Lucille Roybal-Allard

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, we must never forget a time in our country when American workers were forced to toil in appalling conditions, earning pitifully low wages, a time when men, women and, yes, even our children labored under hazardous conditions even during 12 hour work days without breaks or sick leave. If they were injured or dared to complain about these injustices, they risked losing their jobs. Today, thankfully, we have a minimum wage, an 8 hour workday, sick leave, health and safety protections, workers' compensation and unemployment insurance, overtime pay, Social Security, pensions and the right to organize. These hard-won protections may never have been realized without the heroic efforts of organized labor. For it was organized labor that led the campaign to provide free public education to all our Nation's children. And it was organized labor that was a leader in helping to pass landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Age Discrimination Act. As a result, all Americans benefited. That is why, Mr. Speaker, when a ballot initiative in California threatened labor's very existence, voters stood with our unions. On that June 2nd election day, approximately 25,000 volunteers walked precincts and staffed phone banks, turning out California voters in record numbers, and they defeated Proposition 226, the so-called paycheck protection initiative. The defeat of this antiworker initiative is not only a triumph for California workers but for working families across America. By defeating Proposition 226, California voters sent a resounding message that the voices of working families will not be silenced. And so will the rest of the country when similar initiatives around the country and in Congress are introduced, because each day every American benefits from the legacy of labor's invaluable achievements. Mr. Speaker, Americans have a duty to preserve not only these hard- won gains but labor's ability to advocate for working Americans today and in the future.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the conference report and in support of the motion to recommit. There is no question that parents have the right to choose the best possible education for their children. Unfortunately, this bill does not accomplish this goal. Instead of opening doors to a better education for all of America's working families, this bill primarily benefits a small percentage of families who could afford to save as much as $2,000 a year and send their children to private schools. To meet the needs of the majority of American children, we do not need another tax shelter for the wealthier Americans, what we need is to invest our scarce Federal resources in our public schools, where over 90 percent of American children are taught. Our Nation's public schools need funds for books, computers, and well-trained teachers and they critically need funding for repairs and school construction in urban and rural communities where our public schools are overcrowded and literally falling apart. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, our public schools are in worse shape today than any part of our Nation's infrastructure. And based on current growth, it is estimated that we will need to build 6,000 new schools over the next 10 years just to maintain current class size. The motion of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) addresses this crisis by creating a tax credit to help state and localities build new schools and make desperately needed repairs. Investing in our public schools benefits all of America's children, not just a few. I ask my colleagues to defeat the conference report.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Republican resolution and in support of the Democratic alternative. The Republican plan unravels last year's budget deal by cutting over $100 billion from important programs like education, veterans' benefits and crime prevention. The Democratic alternative, however, builds on the balanced budget agreement, and it invests in the future of our country and in the priorities of our people by protecting Social Security, allowing for a reasonable tax cut to end the marriage penalty, and by making a real investment in the education of our children. An example of this commitment to education is the school construction initiative in the Democratic budget. This initiative is critical because our schools are in worse shape today than any part of our nation's infrastructure. As a result, millions of our children in urban, suburban and rural districts are forced to attend schools in desperate need of repair. Also, thousands of our schools are tragically overcrowded. It is estimated that we need to build 6,000 new schools over the next 10 years just to maintain our current class size. These appalling conditions are not merely annoyances and inconveniences, they are barriers to learning, and sadly these conditions serve to diminish the self-esteem of children who must attend these run-down and overcrowded schools. Mr. Chairman, the Republican budget ignores this crisis. The Democratic budget, however, creates a tax credit to help States and localities build new schools and to make desperately needed repairs. The Democratic plan sends a clear message that the education of our children is a top priority vital to our Nation's future. I urge my colleagues to reject the failed Republican budget and to vote in favor of the Democratic alternative.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, my California colleagues join me in bringing attention to an orchestrated campaign to silence America's working families. Proposition 226, on California's June ballot, will undermine unions' efforts to advocate on behalf of our Nation's workers. By subjecting union members to a cumbersome annual verification of their dues, Proposition 226 will cripple organized labor's ability to promote fair wages, health care, retirement security and worker safety. This initiative is harmful and unnecessary. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that workers have the right to refuse to contribute to their union's political activities. This anti-worker movement is not about paycheck protection for workers, it is about the systematic disenfranchisement of American workers, such as our teachers, nurses, police officers and factory workers. Californians and Americans across this Nation must band together to stop this calculated attempt to stifle the voices of working people in our country.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the motion to instruct offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel). Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable that this body has agreed to spend $1.6 billion over 10 years to help children to attend private schools when thousands of our public schoolchildren are trying to learn in schools that are overcrowded and in desperate need of repair. We should be spending this money where it is truly needed, to repair and to rebuild our public schools. The need for new schools is staggering. We currently have the highest number of students in the history of this country, and according to the Department of Education, enrollment will continue to grow at a considerable rate for the next 10 years. In order to keep pace with this growth, we will need to build 6,000 new schools over the next 10 years just to maintain current class size. Further, many of our existing schools are in desperate need of repair. According to a 1998 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers, United States schools are in worse shape than any other part of our Nation's infrastructure, including roads, bridges and mass transit. Studies have produced strong evidence of the link between academic achievement and the condition of our schools. Leaky roofs, buildings in disrepair, and overcrowded classrooms are not merely annoyances or inconveniences; they are barriers to learning, and this is simply not acceptable. As the new millennium approaches, it is more important than ever to ensure that our children have safe, modern physicians in which they can acquire the education necessary to compete in our high-tech economy. This vote is a small step to help our schools accomplish this goal. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Rangel motion to instruct.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 6. Our commitment to making education a national priority must be reaffirmed. We must help our youth develop their talents and the skills they need to compete in today's highly technical and competitive global economy. If we do not, our businesses will not have a skilled workforce, our economy will suffer, and even worse, we will rob our youth of the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 6 will help to end the tragic loss of our youth's talents, energies and abilities and prepare our country for the challenges of the 21st century. For example, H.R. 6 includes President Clinton's new High Hopes initiative which will make available outreach, mentoring and tutoring assistance for low-income students, providing the help and encouragement that many of our young people need to stay in school. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 6 is a good bill that will help our collective effort to ensure that higher education is accessible to all our children.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to introduce a friend and now a new colleague, Barbara Lee, as the new representative of California's 9th Congressional District. Congratulations, Barbara. And we are all delighted to welcome you to Congress. Barbara, of course, is not unfamiliar with this Chamber or these halls. Her years of dedicated service to the people of California's 9th Congressional District began with her service as the senior adviser and also as chief of staff of our former colleague and dear friend, Ron Dellums. Although we will miss you, Ron, we know that Barbara is well prepared to step into your shoes and to blaze new trails of her own. Barbara is and will continue to be an effective representative for her constituents. In the 7 years that she served in California State legislature, 67 of her bills and resolutions were signed by the Governor, impacting a broad spectrum of community concerns; including public safety, education, environmental protections, labor, health, and women's and children's issues. I was privileged to work with Barbara in the California State Assembly from 1990 to 1992. More recently, I had the pleasure of working with Barbara on Team California, our delegation's State/Federal working group. Through my work with Barbara, I know her to be an energetic and extremely effective and dedicated advocate for her community, and an enthusiastic and prolific legislator. Barbara is a staunch advocate for job creation and economic development because she recognizes the positive impact that jobs have on the community's quality of life. In the same vein, Barbara has worked with Federal, State, and local governments to create local and economic community development at decommissioned military bases. Barbara has also been committed to developing closer economic, political, and cultural ties between the State of California and Africa; a role that she will no doubt continue and expand upon when she is here in Congress. It is worth noting that, with Barbara's election, a record 12 out of California's 29 Democratic House Members are female. Now, this number is especially significant when you consider that it was a mere 10 years ago that there were only 12 Democratic women in the entire Congress. Welcome, Barbara. I know that you will have a productive and a distinguished career in Congress. We look forward to working with you on behalf of the State of California and the Nation as a whole. So please join me in welcoming Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, later today the Republican leadership will bring to the floor the supplemental appropriations bill. I regret that I must oppose this bill because the offsets included in this legislation are simply not acceptable. It is unconscionable that badly needed funding to support our troops in Bosnia and Iraq, and disaster relief for States like California, which have sustained upwards of $500 million in damages this winter, are unnecessarily being pitted against important programs which benefit the American people. Despite the fact that more than 80 percent of the funds in this bill are for the Department of Defense, the Republican majority has not offset these costs by making one cut in defense spending. Instead, they have chosen to play partisan political games by making cuts in programs they know the administration and Democrats cannot support. For example, Republicans have chosen to make cuts in education, the AmeriCorps Service Program, which gives disadvantaged youth a chance, and the Section 8 Program, which provides critically needed housing for our Nation's families, the elderly and the disabled. The Republican leadership is sending this bill to the floor knowing it will be vetoed, and knowing that our troops and our communities will be left waiting for desperately needed relief. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve more. These funds should not be held up by political gamesmanship. I ask my Republican colleagues to put our troops and our communities first and to reconsider this ill- conceived tactic.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, Lois Capps' journey to Washington, D.C., began in tragedy with the sudden death of her husband and our colleague, Walter Capps. Today, however, the journey has ended in joy and victory, not only for Lois and her family, but for her constituents. Lois brings to Congress a wealth of experience as a health professional, community activist, and educator. Lois was a nurse for the Santa Barbara School District for 20 years. In this capacity, she served as an elementary district nurse for the entire public school system. She was a coordinator of the teen parent program and was a health consultant for all child development programs. Since 1983, she has periodically taught in the Early Childhood Education Department at Santa Barbara College. Thousands of Santa Barbara's children and families have benefited from Lois's personal care and leadership. Under her direction, hundreds of young parents have received the encouragement and the support to stay in school as well as the child development education to ensure that their children grow up healthy and in loving environments. Lois also has vast working experience in the community, having devoted herself to many community organizations, including the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the Family Service Agency. During Walter's all too brief tenure, Lois was an active partner, traveling with Walter around the central coast, to see firsthand the needs of the people he represented, and also, she traveled to Washington, D.C. where he fought for them and where she was one of the most visible of congressional spouses, frequently sitting in the gallery during votes and debates. Lois is committed to continuing the Capps legacy of reconnecting people to their representatives, to helping families improve their everyday lives through better schools, quality health care, and a cleaner, healthier environment. Lois is also committed to following the Capps tradition of working with the delegation in its effort to find bipartisan solution to California problems. We welcome Lois to Congress and to our delegation. We know that she will be an effective advocate for her constituents, and we look forward to working with her to ensure that the priorities of her district and of all Californians are the priorities of this Congress. Lois, Walter would be very proud of your commitment and your dedication to the people of the 22nd Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the Democratic leader.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, on March 13, 1998, Hispanas Organized for Political Equity (HOPE) Education and Leadership Fund's Seventh Annual Symposium, entitled A Proud Past . . . A Powerful Tomorrow will take place in California's 33rd Congressional District. In honor of this important event, I am proclaiming March 13, 1998, as LATINA HISTORY DAY. The Symposium serves to address a variety of issues important to Latinas of all ages. I am pleased that Latinas benefit from the workshops on science and technology, and corporate management. This year's Symposium also introduces TEEN TRACK, which will focus on providing young Latinas with information on higher education and the importance of leadership. Since its founding in 1989, the HOPE Education and Leadership Fund has remained dedicated to furthering the educational, political and economic status of Latinas. HOPE has anchored itself to the principle that knowledge of the political process coupled with active participation will guarantee a more representative, democratic government. The proclamation of Latinas History Day during ``Women's History Month'' memorializes the important role Latinas play in American society. It recognizes the work and sacrifices of prior generations, celebrates contemporary Latinas, and lays the foundation for future generations. I commend the HOPE Education and Leadership Fund for their commitment to Latinas, and in their honor, proclaim March 13, 1998, as Latina History Day.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, the voters of the 46th Congressional District have reason to celebrate. After a year of investigation and political posturing with a taxpayer price tag of $1 million, the Republican leadership has been forced to give up its investigation because it has found nothing to substantiate its claims that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez) was not duly elected by the voters in her district. The 46th District can celebrate with pride because, in spite of Republican attacks and efforts to discredit their vote and their Congresswoman, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez), fought back with dignity and honor to protect their right to elect their representative while at the same time working diligently and effectively on their behalf in the halls of Congress. It is unfortunate that the Republican leadership refuses to accept the facts and gracefully allow the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez) to serve her district. Instead they have chosen to resort to tactics unworthy of their leadership position by introducing this unfairly worded resolution. Nonetheless, this issue must be dismissed, and I ask my colleagues to vote aye.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, earlier today this chamber voted to end the probe into the election of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. Congresswoman Sanchez was vindicated, and the voice of her constituents was reaffirmed. It should have never been questioned! And now Republicans want to set our nation back. They want to create new barriers to voting for every American. Mr. Speaker, our right to vote is among our most sacred duties as Americans. As our nation has evolved, so has our electoral process. The days of the infamous poll tax are gone, and the 19th Amendment ensures that all of our nation's citizens are granted representation through their vote. H.R. 1428, the so-called ``Voter Eligibility Verification Act'' is a misguided Republican attempt at curtailing the Voting Rights Act as well as key provisions of the Privacy Act. The bill allows federal, state, and local officials to randomly challenge the right to vote of any person they choose, and it directs the Social Security Administration and the Immigration and Naturalization Service to investigate the citizenship of any individual at the request of election officials. The INS and the Social Security Administration both oppose this bill. They know that many of their files are outdated and that they cannot accurately verify the citizenship of Americans. Furthermore, by allowing states to require Social Security numbers on voter registration forms--a practice which is prohibited under the Privacy Act--this bill would overturn key provisions of current law, and make the Social Security numbers of Americans public information. Mr. Speaker, let's keep this Congress from violating the fundamental rights of Americans. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 1428.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and honor that I rise today to recognize the 75th ``Diamond'' Anniversary of the City of South Gate, California. Founded on January 20, 1923, the City of South Gate is a proud community where families and industry flourish together. South Gate's successful blending of the needs of the community and industrial base provides residents with a safe community where families can prosper, industry can succeed, and diversity can thrive. Fittingly, South Gate has consistently ranked among the best cities in Southern California for its quality of life, and in 1990, won the ``All America City'' award from the National Civic League. South Gate's motto, ``Opportunity,'' is fitting for this thriving community. Throughout the city's history, it's opportunity that gave Amelia Earhart a place where she first learned to fly; it's opportunity that gave rise to the spectacular transportation and industrial base the city grows from; and it's opportunity through the city's ethnic diversity, safe communities, and positive youth outlets that allows South Gate to prosper. Whether it be religious cooperation or community volunteering, abundant parks or growing industries, South Gate has always promoted opportunity for its diverse population in order to give rise to success. To the casual observer, South Gate is seen as a place with a strong history of support for the promotion of the ``ideal community'' through individual and collective opportunity. Look deeper and one sees that ``opportunity'' has always been a way of life for South Gate's citizens. Industries are thriving because of targeted incentives and investments in the commercial districts; residents are prospering because of the city's nationally recognized schools, parks, churches, civic groups, and recreational facilities; and the community is flourishing because of the unequaled protection provided by the police, fire, and public-works services. Over the past 75 years, South Gate has persevered because of its innovative spirit, community vitality, and diverse population. But most importantly, South Gate has excelled because of the opportunities given to its people. I congratulate South Gate on their 75th anniversary and for being a city whose vision and character reflect the best of America.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2 of rule IX, I hereby give notice of my intention to offer a resolution which raises a question of the privileges of the House. The form of the resolution is as follows: Whereas, Loretta Sanchez was issued a certificate of election as the duly elected Member of Congress from the 46th District of California by the Secretary of the State of California and was seated by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 7, 1997; and Whereas A Notice of Contest of Election was filed with the Clerk of the House by Mr. Robert Dornan on December 26, 1996; and Whereas the Task Force on the Contested Election in the 46th District of California met on February 26, 1997 in Washington, D.C. on April 19, 1997 in Orange County, California and October 24, 1997 in Washington, D.C.; and Whereas Mr. Dornan's unproven allegations and the actions of the Committee on House Oversight have resulted in an unprecedented attack against Latino voters and created a chilling effect with a message to Latinos that their votes are suspect; and Whereas the allegations made by Mr. Robert Dornan have been largely found to be without merit: charges of improper voting from a business, rather than a resident address; underage voting; double voting; and charges of an unusually large number of individuals voting from the same address. It was found that voting from the same address included a Marines barracks and the domicile of nuns, that business addresses were legal residences for the individuals, including the zoo keeper of the Santa Ana zoo, that duplicate voting was by different individuals and those accused of underage voting were of age; and Whereas the Committee on House Oversight has issued unprecedented subpoenas to the Immigration and Naturalization Service to compare their records with Orange County voter registration records, the first time in any election in the history of the United States that the INS has been asked by the Congress to verify the citizenship of voters; and Whereas the INS has complied with the Committee's request and, at the Committee's request, has been doing a manual check of its paper files and providing worksheets containing supplemental information on that manual check to the Committee on House Oversight for over five months; and Whereas the Committee on House Oversight, subpoenaed the records seized by the District Attorney of Orange County on February 13, 1997 and has received and reviewed all records pertaining to registration efforts of that group; and Whereas the House Oversight Committee is not pursuing a duplicate and dilatory review of materials already in the Committees possession by the Secretary of State of California; Whereas the Task Force on the Contested Election in the 46th District of California and the Committee have been reviewing these materials and has all the information it needs regarding who voted in the 46th District and all the information it needs to make judgments concerning those votes; and Whereas the Committee on House Oversight has after nine months of review and investigation failed to present credible evidence to change the outcome of the election of Congresswoman Sanchez and is presuming never ending and unsubstantiated areas of review; and Whereas, Contestant Robert Dornan has not shown or provided credible evidence that the outcome of the election is other than Congresswoman Sanchez's election to the Congress; and Whereas, the continued probe of the Sanchez election unfairly targets Latino voters and discourages their full participation in the democratic process; and Whereas, the Committee on House Oversight should complete its review of this matter and bring this contest to an end: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That unless the Committee on House Oversight has sooner reported a recommendation for its final disposition, the contest in the 46th District of California is dismissed upon the expiration of November 7, 1997.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2 of rule IX, I hereby give notice of my intention to offer a resolution which raises a question of the privileges of the House. The form of the resolution is as follows: Whereas the Committee on House Oversight passed a resolution, House Resolution 244, purporting to demand that criminal charges be brought against an organization of private citizens, despite the fact that Congress has no power to compel compliance with subpoenas; and whereas the Committee on House Oversight should complete its review of this matter and bring this contest to an end and now therefore be it. Resolved that unless the Committee on House Oversight has sooner reported a recommendation for its final disposition, the contest in the 46th District of California is dismissed upon the expiration of November 7, 1997. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the form of the resolution appear in the Record at this point.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House, and I offer a resolution (H. Res. 291) pursuant to clause 2 of rule IX.

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

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2 of rule IX, I hereby give notice of my intention to offer a resolution which raises a question of the privileges of the House. The form of the resolution is as follows: Whereas, Loretta Sanchez was issued a certificate of election as the duly elected Member of Congress from the 46th District of California by the Secretary of State of California and was seated by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 7, 1997; and Whereas A Notice of Contest of Election was filed with the Clerk of the House by Mr. Robert Dornan on December 26, 1996; and Whereas the Task Force on the Contested Election in the 46th District of California has met only on February 26, 1997 in Washington, D.C. on April 19, 1997 in Orange County, California, and October 24, 1997 in Washington, D.C.; and Whereas the allegations made by Mr. Robert Dornan have been largely found to be without merit: charges of improper voting from a business, rather than a resident address; underage voting; double voting; and charges of unusually large number of individuals voting from the same address. It was found that voting from the same address included a Marines barracks and the domicile of nuns, that business addresses were legal residences for the individuals, including the zoo keeper of the Santa Ana zoo, that duplicate voting was by different individuals and those accused of underage voting were of age; and Whereas the Committee on House Oversight has issued unprecedented subpoenas to the Immigration and naturalization Service to compare their records with Orange County voter registration records, the first time in any election in the history of the United States that the INS has been asked by Congress to verify the citizenship of voters; and Whereas the INS has complied with the Committee's request and, at the Committee's request, has been doing a manual check of its paper files and providing worksheets containing supplemental information on that manual check to the Committee on House Oversight for over five months; and Whereas some Members of the House Oversight Committee are now seeking a duplicate and dilatory review of materials already in the Committees possession by the Secretary of State of California; and Whereas the Task Force on the Contested Election in the 46th District of California and the Committee have been reviewing these materials and has all the information it needs regarding who voted in the 46th District and all the information it needs to make judgments concerning those votes; and Whereas the Committee on House Oversight has after over nine months of review and investigation failed to present credible evidence to change the outcome of the election of Congresswoman Sanchez and is pursuing never ending and unsubstantiated areas of review; and Whereas, Contestant Robert Dornan has not shown or provided credible evidence that the outcome of the election is other than Congresswoman Sanchez's election to the Congress; and Whereas, the Committee on House Oversight should complete its review of this matter and bring this contest to an end: Now, there, be it Resolved, That unless the Committee on House Oversight has sooner reported a recommendation for its final disposition, the contest in the 46th District of California is dismissed upon the expiration of October 31, 1997.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, October is the month set aside to bring national attention to the crime of domestic violence in this country. It is a crime that affects people in all communities, transcending economic, geographic, and racial lines. With a woman battered every 13 seconds it has reached epidemic proportions and is the greatest cause of injury to women in the United States today. Yet, the nature and seriousness of domestic violence as a crime is often ignored. To combat domestic violence, education is a vital component to helping society understand the problem, and to changing attitudes and perceptions about this crime. By raising the level of awareness and understanding about domestic violence we can overcome the shameful stigma and psychological barriers and associated with this epidemic that prevent us from effectively ending the cycle of violence. As co-chair of the Violence Against Women Working Group, I will co- host a reception in Los Angeles with California State Senator Hilda Solis on October 14, 1997, to honor organizations and individuals that work tirelessly against domestic violence. This year's reception will honor Alana Bowman, special assistant to the Los Angeles City attorney, the Domestic Violence Coalition at California Hospital Medical Center, Junior Leagues of California's Silent Witness Project, and El Monte City mayor, Pat Wallach. Alana Bowman has been a champion for victims of domestic violence for over 10 years. As the former head of the Domestic Violence Unit for the city attorney, she set the standard for prosecution of offenders in the city of Los Angeles. Ms. Bowman has played a key role in the development of landmark legislation of domestic violence and continues to do so in her new position as special assistant and as a member of the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women. She is the author of numerous legal manuals and article on domestic violence. To meet the needs of the surrounding community and as a response to the request from the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Division, California Hospital Medical Center formed the Domestic Violence Coalition in 1996, under the direction of Dr. Robert Splawn. The coalition is comprised of representatives from the LAPD, city and district attorney's offices, elected officials, shelter, advocacy agencies, and hospital staff. Its mission is to provide immediate, compassionate support services to victims, and to work towards the prevention of domestic violence. The mission of Junior Leagues of CA Silent Witness Project is to ``promote peace, healing and responsibility in adult relationships in order to eliminate domestic murders in the United States by the year 2010.'' The project is a memorial to personalize the individual woman behind the horrifying statistics of domestic violence. The exhibit educates and galvanizes public and legislative support to the domestic violence. Mayor Pat Wallach of El Monte has been a steadfast supporter of services for domestic violence victims. Most recently, she led the fight that resulted in the city's contribution of $167,000 in HOME funds to buy a building that was transformed into a shelter for battered women and their children. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator Solis in recognizing and congratulating these individuals and organizations who are devoted to the elimination of the domestic violence cycle and to educating our communities about this hideous crime.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I rise in strong support of the Mollohan-Shays amendment.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Mollohan- Shays amendment. Seldom is an issue debated on this floor that is as clear in its importance and value to the American public as the upcoming Census 2000. An accurate, reliable, and inclusive census count is undeniably in the best interests of the American people, and allowing the Census Bureau to use statistical sampling is the best way to achieve that goal. Census data on family status, housing, employment, and income levels gives the country a sense of who we are and where we are headed in the future. For American businesses, census data is a valuable tool that helps them better understand their changing client bases and effectively plan for continued growth and economic well-being. For Federal, State, and local governments, census data is critical for developing effective public policies that meet the future needs of Americans throughout the country. Census data is also the basis upon which $150 billion in Federal dollars is distributed to State and local governments each year. As a result, a census undercount could have a devastating impact on States whose needs go unrecognized. Those with large urban and rural populations are especially vulnerable. For example, the 1990 census had a national undercount of 10 million people. In my home State of California, with an estimated undercount of 1.2 million, Californians were denied a stronger voice in determining public policy and lost millions of critically needed dollars for public facilities and services. Mr. Chairman, history does not have to repeat itself. The Census Bureau's proposal to use statistical sampling in Census 2000 is fiscally and scientifically sound. The National Academy of Sciences and a host of other reputable organizations and local government associations have recommended the use of statistical sampling to achieve an accurate count. In addition, the Department of Justice under the Carter, Bush, and Clinton administrations, as well as every Federal court addressing the legality of statistical sampling, have held that the Constitution and Federal statutes permit its use. Given the benefits of sampling and the fact that experts recommend its use, why are we having this debate? Mr. Chairman, it is purely political. Although there is no evidence to support their assumption, many in the majority party fear that a statistically adjusted census will result in their party being disadvantaged. We must put the American people first. I, therefore, ask my Republican colleagues to abandon this ill- advised political gamesmanship and allow the Census Bureau to use statistical sampling for a more accurate and inclusive census that is indisputably in the best interests of all Americans.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Doggett-Meehan-Hansen-DeGette amendment because the Federal Government should not be in the business of assisting the tobacco industry in promoting its deadly and addictive products either in the United States or in other countries. The U.S. tobacco industry exploits the domestic market by flooding our communities with billboard, magazine and newspaper advertisements and sponsoring concerts and sporting events. They have launched their campaigns with the knowledge of the addictive and deadly effects of tobacco and for years, kept this information from the public. Worse yet, while they knew that tobacco kills, the industry targeted our children and communities of color by promoting the ubiquitous Joe Camel and exploiting cultural events such as Juneteenth and Cinco de Mayo festivals. With U.S. sales lagging in the United States, the tobacco industry has turned to foreign markets to launch their high-profile ads where once again, they are targeting teens and women of color in Asia, Africa, Central, South America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. As a result, worldwide use of American tobacco has skyrocketed over the past 10 years. Foreign sales now account for more than half of all sales for Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds. Due to the thousands of tobacco-related illnesses and deaths that have resulted from the use of tobacco, we are now in the midst of an unprecedented so-called settlement with the tobacco industry. We are finally discussing substantial curtailment of the promotion, advertising, and distribution of tobacco products in the United States. How then can we turn a blind eye and allow the tobacco industry to addict thousands of people in developing nations? How can we in good consciousness allow the U.S. Government to undermine health warning labels, ingredient disclosure laws and tobacco advertising restrictions in developing countries while we simultaneously bolster these provisions in the United States? With the full knowledge of the lethal effects of tobacco use, the Federal Government is no better than the tobacco industry if it encourages and enables tobacco promotion in other countries. Referring to the present deal with the tobacco company as a global tobacco settlement is cruel and hypocritical if we are going to assist the industry in addicting people in foreign countries. Enabling the tobacco industry to promote tobacco addiction while we curtail its use in the United States is an unconscionable and unacceptable double standard. I urge my colleagues to vote for this important amendment which will send a clear message to the tobacco industry that the U.S. Government will not be an accomplice in promoting tobacco-related illnesses and death overseas.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the gentleman. During your recount or during any recount that you may know of, has there ever been a case such as this one where, in addition to the votes in your particular district, thousands and thousands of votes and thousands of voters' records were subpoenaed and looked into that had nothing to do with your particular election like in this case approximately 1.3 million Orange County voters had the INS go and look at their records?

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. If, in fact, we are going to be hearing the facts, I would also like to ask the question that, if we are talking about 93,000 voters in the 46th district that cast votes for the Sanchez- Dornan election, then why were 1.3 million Orange County voters' records subpoenaed and why were they all Latino names?