Ciro Rodriguez

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. What I am afraid of, if the gentleman will yield, is that he is going to move with a tax cut and then, in all honesty, come forward, because there are a lot of needs now on the military budget, and he has come up with a budget that almost does not provide anything yet and he has not brought it forward, but I am sure right now there is a real need for 40,000 new troops, we need $17 billion for infrastructure, and if he pushes that missile effort, that is $100 billion, not to mention that we need a lot of other resources. So I am afraid that instead of taking care of priorities now when we do have the resources, we are going to find ourselves the way we found ourselves in the 1980s. It is a political move from the Republican right to pit the issue of the security of our Nation and our armies against health care and education. It is unfortunate that he is playing with the lives of all Americans when it comes to access to health care at a time when we have the resources to take care of those priorities, both on the military side as well as on the health care side.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I know he has been adamant about access to health care for everyone and trying to make sure it becomes not only accessible, but affordable to everyone. I want to thank the gentleman for doing that and continuously pushing forward. Let me just say things have gotten worse now. We have got over 44 million uninsured. That number continues to grow. As people become unemployed, that is even going to get worse. And the reality is if you live in America and you work in a small company, and you do not work for government or for a major corporation, you do not have access to health care. You have to be indigent to be able to qualify for Medicaid, you have to be elderly to qualify for Medicare, and if you are the working poor out there, trying to make ends meet, you do not have access to health care, both affordable and any type. The reality is also that the increase in the prescription coverage we have been trying to provide, I know from a minority perspective, a large number of people, senior citizens on straight Medicare, and if you do not have access to Medicaid, then you do not have any prescription coverage and you do not have access to that. I know the President has proposed that effort. But even his proposal, if you look at it, would disenfranchise about 25 million senior citizens that would not be able to have access to prescription coverage, which is something critical. At a time when we are talking about tax cuts, here is an issue that if we could provide access to health care and affordable health care to all Americans, we would have an opportunity to not only help businesses and small businesses out there that are now having a rough time also paying for that insurance to get access to health care, but we would be providing everyone at least that opportunity when they got sick. We talked about the fact that in America it is not a constitutional right, but I was surprised, and some people do not realize that the only ones who have a constitutional right to have access to health care are prisoners in this country. Our prisoners have a right to have access to health care, yet our working Americans out there that are working do not have access to it and cannot afford to have access. That is unfortunate. The first 100 days, I have not heard the President say one word about health care. I know his budget, you mentioned the community health centers he had proposed, and I was real optimistic when he said he proposed $3.6 billion for the next 5 years. Well, that has not happened and that has not materialized. The community health centers are the ones out there in the country providing that access in rural America and urban areas for those individuals that do not have access to health care, and that is important. I want to also indicate that the President's budget also cuts Medicaid by over $600 million. Here is an issue, and I mention Texas because I am from Texas, we have had over 300 nursing homes that have gone under, mainly because of the Medicare-Medicaid reimbursement in Texas, one of the lowest in the country. Yet he is going to cut $600 million from Medicaid, which is for the indigent, and we are going to have problems in that area based on that effort. In addition, I want to share with you one of the areas, because I sit on the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. In the area of veterans, he talked during the campaign about the importance of the military, yet when it comes to veterans, he has proposed a $1 billion increase. I want to share with you, that means 4.5 percent. Well, in the area of health care, you can say the cost of living is 2.2, 2.3 percent, but in health care, it is over 15 percent. Prescriptions have gone up by almost 20 percent in cost. So when you look at an industry that is related to health, their cost of living is a lot higher. It has been estimated it is close to 4.7 percent. Basically what his revenues for our veterans is going to cover is existing programs. Right now, we find a dilemma that those people that have served our country when we needed them the most, they were there for us, and now that they need us, we are not there for them. There is no specific funding to reduce the lengthy delays in veterans' access to VA health care. There is no specific funding to improve quality of health care availability to veterans to rely on the VA. There is no specific funding to fully implement the Veterans' Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act, not to mention the fact that when it comes to our veterans in the area of mental health, as my fellow colleague, the gentlewoman from Houston, Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) indicated, in the area of mental health, at any one time you will find over half a million veterans that are homeless out there, a lot of them suffering from mental health problems. When it comes to that area, we are not doing enough to be able to cover that. So we have a real situation where we need to make sure that we are responsive to our veterans. I just want to add that I think it is important to recognize that right now our colleagues back home in Texas, and I want to mention this because this directly relates to our President, that when he was in Texas, he also gave a major tax cut. Well, as of September and August of this past year, 2 months before the election, our State comptroller indicated that we were projected to have a $5 to $6 billion surplus. That projection never materialized, and in fact, supposedly we are down almost $11 billion in the hole. So the State is having a real difficult problem, and there are some quotes from both Democrats and Republicans, the fact that the State has been left in a situation they have never been in in years. What is going to happen with the tax cuts we are having now, without having our priorities, without considering the issues that are before us? We are going to find ourselves in a situation because of what he did today. Today, he proposed the missile defense. Here we have a $100 billion proposal that we have already expended, by the way, since 1983 over $58 billion on this missile defense, which breaks every single treaty we have had with Europe and Russia. We are the ones that are proposing it. We are the ones that are breaking the treaty. We are the ones that decided we wanted to do something different and are causing a problem. We are going to expend major resources that should be going to services and to our veterans and to other things. I want to just add a couple of things. I chair the Task Force on Hispanic Health Care, and one of the things we really need to kind of look at in this country is the fact that in the 1980s, up to 1987, I was in the public health community in Texas, and we were at a point of almost closing down our tuberculosis hospital because we did not have any cases. The bottom line is that now there are over 15 million cases of tuberculosis throughout this country, a large number; one-third of them are along the border. So we need to be very cautious with those infectious diseases, wherever they occur, in this country or in Africa, because those diseases, if we do not take care of them now, the medication that is being tested now and is not taken appropriately, other types of viruses have come about that we do not have the technology to deal with. If those diseases come into this country, we are going to have a serious problem. So we are not spending enough when it comes to tuberculosis. When it comes to AIDS we have made some inroads, and, yes, the statistics seem to be improving. But it is disproportionately now hitting certain populations. Hispanics, for example, represent 20 percent of the cases, yet we only represent 13 percent of the population. When you look at AIDS throughout the world, and you would say, why do you want to get involved in AIDS in Africa, it is because of the fact that it is the same virus. If we do not treat it there, that virus will grow and go elsewhere and eventually, if we are not careful, it will come here too. So we need to be very cautious in those infectious diseases and treat them as if they were right here in our backyard. If we can treat them abroad, that is even better, so they do not reach our borders. So it becomes real important that we do those things. I am hoping that as we move forward, and I know most Americans feel that we should at least have access to that health care, affordable and accessible care, I think that we can move forward on that. There are some beautiful proposals out there that talk about access to health care, and indicate that we can, because we are the country that expends the most right now on health care, and they are saying we can cut that by $150 billion if we come up with a new system, because we are based on a system that is basically based on profits and not provided. If you are sick, a lot of times you are let go and you are left and no one wants to insure you. So the bottom line is that, as Americans, we need to make sure we are there for our senior citizens, we need to make sure that we are there for our most vulnerable; and we have to make sure that those working Americans have that opportunity to receive that care. Once again, I want to thank the gentleman for his efforts. I know he has been there right on the forefront, and I love the fact that he has not let go of this issue; and it is something that is critical, and we should not let it go, and we need to move forward on it.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) for yielding the time to me allowing me this opportunity to speak. Mr. Speaker, I also want to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the family and to the children. I want to share with you that I had the opportunity for the last 4 years on the Committee on Armed Services to have met Norm Sisisky. When I first came, one of the first difficulties that I had, I had lost a base in San Antonio, and I knew that he was very strong, very supportive of depot, and I had the opportunity to make some comments. I thought that I was going to have some problems with him, because I knew that he felt very strongly on the other side. But I quickly found that he was a gentle man, very respectful, despite the fact that we disagreed on that one issue. He recognized my situation and understood where I was coming from. I wanted to come today to say thanks to the family having allowed him to serve not only the State of Virginia and his constituency, but the Nation. He is an individual that was there for our troops, was there for our Nation, and I know that he has had a tremendous impact. I just want to quickly just indicate, there is a poem by Robert Frost that says, ``Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.'' There is no doubt that Norm has taken that road less traveled by and has made all the difference for all of us.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity, first of all, to congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) on his efforts on this resolution. I take pride in being here with him and taking this opportunity as I rise to honor an inspired and beloved man, Cesar Estrada Chavez. Today we honor him in anticipation of his birthday and ask the Members of the House to pay tribute and pay respect to a man who brought dignity to every man and woman and child in this country as we struggled from the fields. Chavez was bestowed one of the greatest honors when he was introduced into the U.S. Department of Labor's Labor Hall of Fame. This honor is solely reserved for Americans whose contributions to the field of labor have enhanced the qualities of lives for millions. Not only did he enhance the lives of millions, but he touched deeply those individuals with compassion and commitment and, as we used to refer, to la causa (the cause). Many of my colleagues may remember one particular time when he had 25 days of fast that was conducted by Chavez, which reaffirmed the United Farm Workers' commitment to nonviolence. For those of us who lived through that period of time, we heard of the great odds that Chavez faced as he led the successful 5-year strike and boycott. Through these boycotts, Chavez was able to forge a national support of coalitions of unions, church groups, students, minorities, and consumers. By the end of the boycotts, everyone knew the chant that unified all groups, si se puede, yes we can. It was a chant of encouragement, pride, and dignity. Although we knew him for his advocacy on behalf of farm workers, he was influential in other areas. He helped communities mobilize by assisting them with voter registration drives and insisting that the minority communities had just as much right to have equitable access to quality education. The migrant schools that we find today is a tribute to his work and his hard efforts in assuring that those youngsters, those children of those workers should have access to a good quality education. He helped to mobilize by continuing to move forward in these areas. Many of us today look to Chavez for the inspiration even here in the House of Congress. Those of us who continue his fight to make sure that the voice of those voiceless is heard and that the dignity that is deserved by all laborers, no matter what their work, should continue. America has seen few leaders like Chavez. To honor his work and deeds, I ask each Member to be supportive of these efforts and this resolution. I want to just briefly also just talk about the fact that here was a man who organized these individuals who did not even get minimum wage, a very difficult task to do. Yet he was out there struggling. When one got a chance to meet him, he was a quiet, very dignified, very nonviolent individual, very unassuming. Yet he was a giant of a man. I know Art Rodriguez who has followed after him. I had the pleasure of being at St. Mary's University with him as a student. To me, Cesar Chavez meant a great deal. Because as I started trying to get my degree in pharmacy, I changed and got involved in the movement during that time, even changed my degree to political science and in other fields and got involved in politics. My wife was also involved in the boycotts, in lettuce as well as the grapes. That is how I met my wife, Carolina. Mr. Speaker, there is a great deal that he brought to us, and that was the fight and dignity that every worker should have, that every individual should be treated in an equitable manner. In terms of the struggle we see now, I know that he would be saying, if you want to bring in a bracero program or a guest worker program, you make sure that you treat those people in the same way as you treat the 300,000 that we just brought over with high-tech technology and degrees, to make sure that they get treated in the same manner. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), who have brought forward year after year resolutions and efforts in creating a holiday for Cesar Chavez.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to show my support for the community health centers and the vital services provided to the medically underserved, rural areas and the minority communities throughout this country. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the $250 million budget increase for the year 2002 for the community health centers. The funding level will allow centers to expand and deliver health care services to those in need who need it most. I would like to acknowledge the fact that President Bush pledged to provide $3.6 billion over 5 years to build an additional 1200 community health centers. The request of a $250 million increase will put us on the right track to meet the President's funding goals. Mr. Speaker, I think that is something that is viable and something that we can continue to work on. In 1999, these centers performed primary and preventive health care and dental services for more than 11 million children and adults. We have a total of 44 million uninsured Americans that lack access to health care services. I want to talk to my colleagues briefly about that, because of the fact that these are working Americans. These are individuals that are up there, and families that are working hard in small businesses. I would attest to my colleagues if my colleagues have someone out there that is not working with a major corporation, that is not working for Federal Government or State or local government, most of those individuals do not have access to health care. They are in dreaded need. They do not have enough resources to be able to purchase it. They are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, not old enough to qualify for Medicare. Yet they find themselves uninsured, yet working and trying to make things come together. The community service centers provide that access to them. One in six or 4.6 million low-income children are served by the health centers. There are over 400,000 births that are delivered. Imagine how many kids we could reach out to by increasing the budget by $250 million. This is a small price to pay for our children to have healthy bodies and strong and clean teeth. Community health centers are critical because they provide treatment, they provide preventive care, and they provide access. In my district back in Texas, we have five health centers with 23 sites. Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with some of them from the Atascosa Health Center in Pleasonton, Texas, and Centro del Barrio in the south side and east side of San Antonio, and the Barrio Clinic at the Ali Austin Center. These services are continued to be provided by these centers. I want to thank them for their services. Nearly 70 percent of those served in community health centers are minorities. One out of every 10 rural Americans is served by these centers. I represent 13 other counties, a lot of rural area; and these centers pay a very vital role in that area. Hispanics make up also close to 68 percent of my district, and many of the benefits of these centers go to that population. As many of my colleagues know, also, we are having a real serious problem in the area of tuberculosis. My district goes all the way to the Mexican border. Almost one-third of the cases in this country are along the border, from Texas to California, in the area of tuberculosis. We know that that is a disease that we are having some real serious problems with. These centers play a very significant role in providing that treatment in that area. Not to mention the fact that when we look at the problems that we are encountering with other infectious diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and others, at a time when we feel we are making the gains, we still have 20 percent of the cases among Hispanics when we only represent 12.5 percent of the population. So there are still strides that need to be done. Let me just say why we should support and reauthorize this $250 million. First of all, millions of Americans are uninsured and need that access to care. Secondly, health centers are an inexpensive way of providing access to quality affordable care to these communities. Thirdly, health centers help make the benefit of public insurance programs available to more eligible children and adults. Not to mention that the expansion will provide primary care infrastructure in this country that is needed and drastically needed for us to continue to move forward. I want to thank the chairman and ask my colleagues to support this effort in assuring that the community health centers get an additional $250 million as we move forward and meet the President's goal.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the lasting contributions of a true American hero, Cesar Chavez. On April 23, 1992, Cesar Estrada Chavez ended his 66-year crusade against injustice in much the same way he began it--quietly and peacefully. More than 40,000 people participated in his funeral, honoring a hero who brought dignity to the voiceless men, women, and children laboring in America's crop lands. Now, on the March 31st anniversary of his birth, Congress is slated to consider H. Con. Res. 3, the first step in establishing a permanent federal holiday to honor Cesar Chavez. President Clinton posthumously awarded Cesar Chavez the Medal of Freedom in recognition of his outstanding contributions to American labor. Chavez was also inducted into the U.S. Labor Department's Hall of Fame, the first Hispanic to be given this honor. This weekend, I will proudly take to the streets of San Antonio, Texas, with thousands of South Texans to honor Cesar Chavez and La Causa during San Antonio's annual March for Justice. Though awards and commemoration are important, Cesar Chavez did not seek out recognition for himself. Instead, he fought for what he called La Causa. For the millions of exploited and vulnerable farmworkers who, from dawn till dusk, plant, plow, and pick, La Causa was a tireless commitment to improving their plight, a recognition of the injustices they suffer. His commitment transcended the hot, dusty fields. He was a husband, father, grandfather, labor organizer, community leader, and an icon for the ongoing struggle for equal rights and equal opportunity. Beyond agrarian America, he organized community voter registration drives, pushed for safer working conditions, and stood up to those who would deny his fellow laborers their basic human rights. The migrant schools he worked so hard to establish are a testament to his exhaustive efforts and a rare opportunity for many of America's laboring children to escape poverty. Chavez rose from a fruit and vegetable picker to the head of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). From the beginning, he worked to instill in the UFW the principals of non-violence practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When the UFW began striking in the 1960s to protest the treatment of farm workers, the strikers took a pledge of non-violence. The 25 day fast Chavez conducted reaffirmed the UFW's commitment to this principle. For those of us who lived through this tumultuous era, we heard of the great odds Chavez faced as he led successful boycotts of grapes, wine, and lettuce in an attempt to pressure California growers to sign contracts with the UFW. Through his boycott, Chavez was able to forge a national support coalition of unions, church groups, students, minorities, and consumers. By the end of the boycott everyone knew the chant that unified all groups, ``Si se puede.''--yes we can. It remains a chant of encouragement, pride and dignity. America has seen few leaders like Chavez. But his battle is not over. Those of us who continue his fight do so in order to give voices to the voiceless laborers no matter where they work or who they are. To honor his memory, Congress should pass H. Con. Res. 3, another step in the ongoing struggle to make his birthday a national day of remembrance. In his own words, ``I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of humanity, is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally non-violent struggle for justice . . . to be human is to suffer for others . . . God help us be human.'' Let us take these words and move forward in our continuous struggle for justice.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the 225,000 blue- collar employees who work for the federal government. These trade, craft, and labor employees are essential to our federal government's daily operation, yet we are not treating them with respect and dignity by paying them fairly under the Federal Wage System. Today I am introducing legislation, the Federal Wage Worker Pay Fairness Act of 2001, which addresses the fundamental problems with our federal wage system. Blue-collar federal employees, a majority of whom work for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), are key to the security and defense of our nation. They perform a range of duties critical to the success of military missions and the safety of our soldiers. They maintain our tanks and fighter planes, they repair ships and they handle munitions. It is by their sweat and hard work that we show our commitment to and support of our armed forces. Wage grade employees in the VA are the men and women who work to fulfill America's promise to our veterans. Many of these workers are veterans themselves. They are the food service employees who prepare and deliver the nourishment veterans need to heal and recover from illness. They are the housekeepers who do the dirty and often hazardous work of maintaining a safe and clean hospital. They are the carpenters, mechanics, and electricians who keep the VA hospitals operating 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. The pay for wage grade employees is supposed to be set according to local prevailing rates--rates which compare to the same types of jobs performed by their non-federal counterparts. But for too long, federal employees have not been compensated at prevailing rates. They are not making a living wage. Many of the wage grade workers at the lower grades cannot afford the premiums on their federal health insurance plans. Some are even eligible for food stamps and hover just above the poverty level. The Federal Wage System for these dedicated and hardworking employees is a failure. It is time to do the right thing for these workers. The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, the largest federal employee union, has been vigilant in urging Congress to provide the needed redress to the injustices in the Federal Wage System. My legislation, the Federal Wage Worker Pay Fairness Act of 2001, does so and is supported by AFGE. First, the bill would guarantee wage grade workers an annual pay raise. Unlike their white-collar co-workers, wage grade employees are not guaranteed any annual pay raise. The nationwide General Schedule (GS) and locality pay raise we in Congress approve every year are not given to federal employees in blue-collar occupations. It is unfair for the federal government to single out one segment of its workforce for impoverishment. A basic across the board pay adjustment each year is necessary to offset increases in their federal health care premiums as well as general increases in the cost of living. No employee of the U.S. government should see steady decreases in purchasing power from persistent wage stagnation. Wage grade workers have seen their paychecks purchase less and less. For example, from 1984 to 1999, the pay of a General Schedule-11, step 4, employee at Warner Robins Air Force Base, in Georgia, kept pace with inflation. The pay of a Wage Grade-10, step 2, employee fell by about half. In other words, the wage grade employee's wage increases only made up for half of the increase in prices measured by the Consumer Price Index. And this loss of purchasing power doesn't even reflect the skyrocketing costs of federal health care premiums, which rose by 30 percent in the past few years. Providing all federal blue collar workers with a minimum annual wage adjustment equal to General Schedule increases is budget neutral because of the federal government's budget assumes that wage grade workers would be awarded the GS pay raise. Second, the legislation would lift the caps on blue-collar pay increases. On top of not being guaranteed an annual GS pay raise, any raise blue collar workers can receive is capped at the average nationwide GS pay raise. This is unfair and wrong. If federal agencies are to remain competitive we must stop imposing an artificial and arbitrary cap on blue-collar pay raises. Third, my legislation would end the discriminatory practice of paying Department of Defense wage grade employees less than their counterparts in VA by restoring Monroney requirements to DoD. The ``Monroney amendment'' to the Federal Wage Schedule requires the government to look outside the relevant wage survey area if there is an insufficient number of analogous private sector jobs to calculate blue- collar pay. This requirement is logically necessary to ensure that the prevailing wages are based on comparable work. In 1985, the law was amended to exclude DoD from the Monroney amendment's requirement. As a result, in San Antonio, a Wage Grade-11, step 5 blue-collar worker in the VA or other federal departments earn $18.26 an hour but his or her counterpart in DoD earns $.69 less an hour, or $17.57. On overtime, that 69 cent differential becomes $1.04 an hour in lost pay. While 69 cents an hour or $1.04 an hour more may not seem much, it adds up for individual employees who are trying to support their families. Fourth, the legislation would simplify the data collection and administration of the Federal Wage Schedule. The bill would consolidate the areas surveyed for wage rates from the current 133 localities in the Federal Wage Schedule to the 32 localities drawn by the federal salary council used to set the pay for virtually every other federal employee under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA). These 32 regions are a more modern and accurate reflection of contemporary labor markets and commuting patterns. Simplifying the areas of data collection used to calculate wage schedules from 32 localities rather than 133 would yield considerable savings. The legislation would also transfer responsibility for data collection from the lead agency, the Department of Defense, to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This federal agency collects data used for other federal pay systems, most notably the GS white collar system. It already conducts data collection in the relevant localities, matching federal and non-federal jobs. While this change would impose new costs on the BLS, the consolidation of localities means that the cost of data collection to the government will go down overall. Mr. Speaker, the single most important measure of a pay-setting system--for either white or blue-collar workers--is whether it allows workers to earn sufficient income to support a family in a decent fashion. Does it produce at least a stable standard of living? Does it hold out the hope that in good economic times, improvements in the standard of living are possible? Our current system does not. The Federal Wage Worker Pay Fairness Act of 2001 would correct the fundamental errors in the current pay-setting system for federal blue- collar workers to ensure that they have a chance at a decent and stable standard of living. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation on behalf of our nation's federal workforce.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Chairman, let me, first of all, start by stating the fact that right now in Texas we are having a really serious problem with our budget, and our former Governor, now President, left us in shambles. We have a situation where we were supposed to have a major surplus and the fact is that we do not. We have teachers that do not have access to insurance because of the fact that we do not have sufficient resources. We have youngsters that are not being covered for medication because of the fact that we do not have enough money to make the match. We have families that are uninsured and kids that are uninsured because of the fact that we do not have sufficient resources to be able to get those Federal monies for the CHIPS program. Now, the President is trying to do the same thing on the Federal level. Without proposing the exact budget that we need in terms of making priorities that we need to consider such as education, which is critical, as we move into the global economy; our national defense where we know full well that we need 40,000 additional troops out there; the testimony from Gingrich that we talked about where we need the $60 billion to $80 billion right now as a supplemental. We are not talking about those items. What we are talking about is a tax cut that is irresponsible, not considering the fact that we have a situation before us that we are having a problem with our economy. Even back home in Texas, they are not even willing to tell us now what the economy is going to look like, just like here, where any economist with any right sense would not be able to tell us what it is going to look like 5 or 6 years from now. So it makes sense for us to look at the Democratic alternative that considers taking care of Social Security, considers taking care of our senior citizens and Medicare, and considers assuring that we continue to expend our resources where they should be.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I just rose on the previous measure to stress the importance of improving educational, burial, and outreach programs for the departing service members, veterans, and their dependents. There exists another matter which deserves our immediate attention, the state of our patient care facilities in the VA health care system. The Veterans Hospital Emergency Repair Act authorizes $550 million over the next 2 years for major VA medical facility construction projects. The Secretary of the Veterans Affairs will be given discretionary authority to improve, repair and renovate dilapidated patient care facilities, including some research centers. To ensure that the process selecting these construction projects does not get caught up in politics, I am pleased also to see the accountability provisions that have been placed into effect. The Secretary will be required to submit reports to Congress detailing which projects were funded and the criteria used to select these projects for funding purposes. There is no doubt that H.R. 811 is only a short-term solution to improving the VA infrastructure, which in this case is 50 years old. As the veterans' population gets older, their long-term health care needs become even more acute. It is imperative that the VA hospitals and the clinics be maintained to provide the quality of care our veterans need and deserve. Congress, therefore, must make a long-term financial commitment to address the VA construction and renovation needs. This is a first step. And I know we all recognize the importance of this step, but we also recognize how much farther we need to go. Mr. Speaker, and I want to take this opportunity in closing to congratulate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, on his efforts; and I know, in quoting the gentleman, that the infrastructure is crumbling, and there is need for more resources. I look forward to continuing to working with the chairman and also the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) on their efforts.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the important bipartisan piece of legislation that we have before us. I want to take this opportunity to thank the chairman of the full committee and the chairman of the subcommittee for their leadership, as well as the minority leader, as well as the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for his efforts, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) also. At a time when drastic tax cuts seem to overshadow our Nation's priorities, it is refreshing that the House should take up the legislation that addresses our commitment to improving services to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice, our veterans. The Veterans Opportunities Act makes improvement to key veterans' programs. In particular, the measure makes enhancements to the veterans educational and the burial benefits that are long overdue. For those seeking assistance in pursuing higher education, the bill increases benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill. It expands the work-study opportunities for veteran students and extends benefits to cover independent study for qualified institutions. Without doubt, the educational benefits are instrumental in assisting the military in recruitment efforts. Those men and women who have chosen to serve our country in uniform deserve better access to higher education; and we all recognize the importance of how the cost of education has continued to grow and continued to move forward, so it is important for us to keep pace with that. We have come a step forward; we still have a long way to go. But I am very pleased that we are beginning to address and increase the amounts of the Montgomery GI Bill. Finally, the families who face financial challenges for burying our veterans will receive some relief under H.R. 801. Burial funeral allowances will be increased from $1,500 to $2,000 for service- connected veterans and $300 to $500 for nonservice-connected veterans. As Congress prepares to take up the budget resolution, we should remind ourselves that our peace is a blessing. However, peace does not diminish our obligation to American veterans. It is time to take care of those and move forward. This bill begins to do that, and I want to thank the leadership on both sides for their efforts on this piece of legislation. Once again, I want to congratulate the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the committee, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) for their efforts.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today it is my privilege to recognize Alex Briseno for his 34 years of service to the City of San Antonio. As Mr. Briseno retires from his current position as the City Manager to one of the largest cities in Texas we know that his hard work and dedication will be greatly missed by the people of our community. Nobody understands San Antonio's government better than Alex Briseno. He began his career with the City of San Antonio in 1977 as assistant to the city manager. Within three years he advanced to become an assistant city manager. During his next ten years of service he learned the intricacies of different departments within the city, knowledge that would empower him to manage the city staff with the wise hand of experience. He supervised numerous different departments ranging from the Budget Department to the Information Services and Health Department. He was well prepared for the challenges he would face as city manager, the city's top non-elected executive position. In 1990, Mr. Briseno became city manager for a city that currently has more than 1. 1 million people and covers an area of 417 square miles. He oversaw a budget of more than $1 billion and managed 11,000 employees. Through his leadership in the past ten years San Antonio has continued to grow and develop. Mr. Briseno not only shared his leadership skills with the city while acting as city manager; he also served the community through his service in various organizations. He has been on the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America, helping to develop the youth of our nation. He has served on the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County Board of Trustees to better the lives of those in need, served on the board of directors of his alma mater, Trinity University, to improve education in the city, and worked with the Alamo Area Council and Free Trade Alliance San Antonio to create new opportunities for growth and advancement. One aspect of this Mr. Briseno's life that helped to prepare him for leadership in the city of San Antonio was his education. At Trinity University he earned his undergraduate degree in economics where he graduated magna cum laude. He then continued his education to earn his Master's in Urban Studies. His service as a captain in the United States Army was another invaluable source of education that prepared him for his future years in city government. We should all commend the dedication of this man to hlsj'ob and his community. He was born and raised in San Antonio, received his education in life there, and stayed to help build its future. San Antonio is a better place because of Mr. Briseno's service. We wish him well in all future endeavors.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, today I join my colleague from Texas [Silvestre Reyes] in order to recognize the need to fight Tuberculosis (TB) across the globe. To many Americans, this is a disease of the past or one that only exists in other countries, far from us. Unfortunately, it is neither gone nor far away. Today, TB remains a dangerous disease impacting 15 million in the United States. If we are to eliminate TB within our own borders, we must work to control TB on a world wide basis. Nearly 57 million Americans travel in any given year outside of the United States, approximately 1 million people legally immigrate to the United States, and millions of others travel here each year. This continuous movement across borders increases the possible spread of the disease and makes it an international public health threat. While the disease knows no borders, we within our borders can take action and recognize the need to combat tuberculosis globally. I am greatly concerned that one-third of new TB cases originate in the four Southwest border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and that minorities are disproportionately hurt by this disease. Tuberculosis occurs along the border at twice the national average. In the United States, Latinos suffer from TB at a rate that is six times that of Anglos. African-Americans suffer from TB at a rate that is eight times that of Anglos. TB needs to be controlled now before it spreads uncontrollably, or worse yet, becomes resistant to treatments. For most of us it might seem a distant disease that few of us will encounter, but it is a real and threatening disease that can harm many in the United States if we do not take control measures now. I urge you to support this fight against tuberculosis and to support H. Res. 67.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to share with you the devotion to public service displayed by a group known as the Southwestern Bell Communications (SBC) Telephone Pioneers. The San Antonio Council #40 of this organization worked diligently to have 991 popular Berenstein Bear books donated to their community's schools. With this donation they are taking concrete steps to promote reading of these fun books and others by elementary school children. The SBC Telephone Pioneers have the goal of impacting over 86,000 families by donating a set of eleven books to ninety-one elementary schools in three different San Antonio school districts. The hope is that the teachers will read these stories about the popular Berenstein Bear family to help children better understand life's little and big issues while gaining an appreciation of reading books. Brother and sister bear share their stories of starting school, making friends, and dealing with their feelings while Mama and Papa give advice. They learn about honesty, sharing, and responsibility. These wonderful stories will not only help the children relate to different situations, but hopefully will also inspire the children to continue learning through reading. This tremendous donation by the SBC Telephone Pioneers is commendable. The over 40,000 students that will have access to these books are fortunate. The SBC Telephone Pioneers have set an example of how to improve our communities one child at a time. The donation of these books is a special tribute to the children of San Antonio and volunteers who cared enough to make a difference.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, as we in Texas celebrate Public Schools Week, March 5-9, I wish to recognize the many achievements made by public schools in Texas. At a time when Congress is debating the merits of reforming education in this country, it is important that we recognize the progress that has been made in meeting the goals of our education system and to applaud the dedicated public servants who educate our children. As an educator and a former school board member, I have witnessed first hand the tremendous effort our teachers pour into every class, every hour and every minute with their students, and it is fitting that Texas recognizes their dedication during this special week. Public schools are the backbone of our education system. Ninety percent of the school age population nationwide attends public schools. A good, quality public education serves not only as a bridge to vast economic opportunities, but also as a foundation for our strong and prosperous democracy. Thanks to the hard work of teachers, counselors and administrators, Texas has made significant strides in its public education system, especially in student achievement. To continue on this path of success, we must offer more to our students and families than block grants and vouchers, which serve only to redistribute resources inconsistently and damage the democratic foundation of public schools. We must capitalize on our success and increase our efforts to modernize Texas classrooms, maintain a teacher ratio that places students in a personal learning environment with well-trained teachers, and ensure security and safety. The sad events this week in California remind us of the dangers in ignoring students' needs. Therefore, it is important that public schools be given the resources to recruit and retain professional counselors and social workers who not only aid students in their academic planning but also provide support and consultation to those students who may suffer from depression or mental illness. Every child in Texas deserves this and nothing less. As we chart our course in this new millennium, the education of all Texas children remains vital to our future. Texas Public Schools Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our past, our present, and our future.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned about the decision of the Committee on Education and the Workforce to split the higher education issues. I take offense that the higher education issues affecting Hispanic- serving institutions and historically black universities and colleges are not considered as mainstream, and, therefore, the bias-skewed mentality found it necessary to group them with such disparate issues as juvenile justice, runaway youths and other social issues. It is a form of segregation and placing blame and blaming the victim. I am really concerned that the mentality that created the proposal is one that is placing blame rather than acknowledging that we all have a problem, that we all need to take ownership, that we all need to solve the issue and not designate it as a problem that belongs to one group or another, given that our Hispanic-serving institutions and our historically black colleges and universities are assisting youth and people throughout the country to make sure that they meet the challenges of the 21st century. I have spoken to my universities back home, and they are seriously concerned with what has happened in the Committee on Education and the Workforce and, therefore, I ask the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, to reconsider this decision and let us make sure that every child is not left behind.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to join in support of the resolution by the gentleman from Colorado (Bob Schaffer) to honor the outstanding contributions of African American Pioneers of the West. As we reflect upon the development of the American West, the vital role of African Americans is shamefully overlooked. In the American West, African Americans were settlers, explorers, cowboys, ranchers, soldiers, peace officers, miners, blacksmiths, lawyers and legislators. But because our historical literature fails to appropriately acknowledge their many achievements, African Americans are largely omitted from the stories of Western American settlement. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, African Americans made a vitally significant contribution to the success of our early nation. As much as one-third of all cowboys were African American. The cowboy, or vaquero, as their Hispanic counterparts were called, was one of the most dangerous and hardest jobs in the West, vital to developing an economic base. African Americans, some of the first Western American millionaires, purchased land and worked to develop agriculture into the national economic asset it is today. African Americans traveled west in covered wagons across the country to form all-Black, self-sufficient towns. African American residents held every position and job necessary to ensure the town's survival. As blacksmiths or State legislators, African Americans made the West a part of our Nation. African Americans also introduced law and order to the West. As peace officers and as soldiers in the United States Army, African Americans made the frontier safer for settlers. In Texas' early years, about half of the lawmen who rode with the State Police were African Americans. Many African Americans also rode with Theodore Roosevelt's famous Rough Riders and these Buffalo soldiers were famous for their uncommon valor. It is appropriate, especially during Black History Month, to celebrate the many positive efforts of African Americans in forging the American West. We celebrate this history by acknowledging the heritage and significant contributions of our African American brothers and sisters. I applaud Congressman Schaffer and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus for bringing long-overdue attention to these little known historical facts. I call on schools across the Nation to incorporate this important history into our student's education.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, today the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) and I will reintroduce the National Center for Social Work Research Act which would establish a center within the National Institutes of Health. As a former social worker, I believe that this center would be a tremendous resource not only to Congress and policymakers but also to service providers throughout this country. Social workers are in a unique position to offer insight and recommendations on how to address both individual and community societal problems. They are on the front line working with individuals on a day-to-day basis on issues ranging from access to health care, mental health, child abuse, and family reconciliation. The establishment of the National Center for Social Work Research would provide us with interdisciplinary, family-centered, and community-based social work research that is needed and designed to help us not only in terms of policy but also in terms of service for our service providers. I ask my colleagues to support this effort, the National Center for Social Work Research.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today the San Antonio community mourns the loss of one of its young police officers, John Anthony Riojas. As his community grieves this week, not only should this officer's story be remembered, but so should the story of every law enforcement officer who takes risks daily to protect us. This past Friday, Officer Fiojas, a member of the Street Crimes Arrest Team unit and eleven-year veteran of the San Antonio Police force, was mortally shot while on duty. He was one of nine officers participating in an operation to stop a rash of property crimes plaguing an apartment complex. At the time of his fatal injury he was attempting to apprehend an individual on foot. He overtook the suspect, who reportedly shot the young officer with his own weapon. Sadly, John Riojas, known to his friends as ``Rocky,'' joins 42 other San Antonio police officers killed in the line of duty and is the fourth death of an officer in the past 45 days. We in this great House of Representatives join his family, fellow officers and many friends in mouming this tragic loss. This 37-year old father of two was seen as a man who was tying to make the community a better place by those who worked with him. Officer Riojas graduated in 1982 from St. Gerard's Catholic High School in San Antonio. A star football player, his friends recall Riojas' excitement upon entering the police force because he wanted to make a difference. And he has. Our condolences go out to his widow, two young children, and his entire family. His children, a two-year old daughter and a son of only eight weeks, have lost their father. Hopefully, they will always know his devotion and sacrifice on behalf of his community. All too often, we forget that our sense of safety is rooted in the work of law enforcement officers like John Riojas. His service and devotion to his family, community, and country exemplify the best in our society. May his children and family always see the work he did in their community and be proud of the example he set.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true public servant and long-time colleague, Mr. Sam Flores of Seguin, TX. After 36 years of working for the Seguin City Council, Mr. Flores retired the beginning of this year after devoting half of his life to the council and most of his life in the service of others. He is an inspiration for us all. Mr. Flores was born in San Marcos, TX, during the Roaring Twenties, but grew up during the difficult years of the Great Depression. A young Flores soon learned the value of hard work as the middle child of seven raised during this trying time. As soon as he was physically capable of manual labor, Flores was thrust into the life of an adult migrant worker, traveling from California to Minnesota as the seasons changed. When only 17, he dropped out of school to join the Marines. His six- year career was distinguished, and included serving as a Platoon Sergeant in the Korean War and aiding in the evacuation of Shanghai by Americans during the communist revolution in China. After finishing his time with the Marines, Flores continued his formal education and earned a degree in education from Southwest Texas State University in 1955. Four years later Sam Flores had earned his Master's degree in school administration, was married to Velia Flores, and moved to her hometown of Seguin, TX. For the next 35 years Flores would serve the Harlandale ISD. He taught regular and special education classes to elementary and secondary school students. He distinguished himself as the first Hispanic Principal for the Harlandale ISD. He then became the Director for Special Education for six school districts. Even after this extensive career, Mr. Flores, knowing the value of education, works for the Seguin school district as the Attendance Officer. Flores did not limit himself to his teaching vocation, but also took an active interest in other aspects of the community. Flores helped others. And it was both the small and large things that made an impact, everything from helping a single mother fill out a college application to working for the establishment of the Seguin Housing Authority, from assisting an elderly widow with her Social Security to helping establish the Seguin Boys Club. We owe Sam Flores a great deal of gratitude for his work to build a new Seguin Post Office, establish the Health Unit Project, and provide the leadership needed to complete the Walnut Creek Flood project. Sam Flores led the fight against discrimination. In the Sixties he helped form the Seguin Biracial Committee, which successfully worked to end discrimination in public places. He also helped to end segregation in the Seguin Independent School District. Beyond merely ending discrimination, Flores worked to expand cultural understanding. Today, for example, because of his dedication, Texas Lutheran University now has Mexican American Studies program for the benefit of our students. The contributions made by Sam Flores to the City of Seguin are felt not only by those in direct contact with him, but by all the contributions made by the people he touched. His tremendous work and accomplishments is inspiring. His example of sincere dedication to others is a blueprint for all of us to follow.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, I paid my last respects to a man that I knew since the age of 12, a man that I respected and admired immensely, Henry B. Gonzalez. I have called this special order so that we may honor Henry B., a friend and a former colleague. I would like to express my condolences to his wife, Senora Gonzalez; my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Charles Gonzalez); and the entire Gonzalez family. My heart and prayers are with them in this time of sorrow. Henry B. was one of the hardest working men I have ever known. My father often referred to him as ``El Compadre,'' the godfather. He was a true friend to all San Antonions and all Texans and throughout the country. From my father's radio I grew up listening to the words of Henry B. My dad's Compadre was famous for his blazing honesty, strong convictions, compelling oratory, and undying dedication to public service. Long hours working at a Southside San Antonio gas station as a young man gave me the opportunity to meet dozens of people every day when I used to fill gas tanks. When I worked at the gas station and people came by, I checked their oil and washed their windows. I still vividly recall the day almost 40 years ago when I was working there at that gas station on Pleasanton Road and a special customer drove up and asked me to fill up his tank. When I realized that it was Henry B. Gonzalez who had parked next to me, I was filled with pride and excitement. Even at that age, as a teenager, I knew Henry B. and the legacy that he was hard at work establishing. Congressman Gonzalez was a role model to all of us, a strong man with a strong work ethic fighting for all of us. But at the time, for me, he was one who needed gas; and I took pride in being able to fill up his gas tank at that age. As the Nation pays tribute to Henry B. and the hard-fought battles he championed, Alamo City mourns the profound loss of one of the most well-known figures in Texas public office. He served proudly in the United States House of Representatives, but long before his famous days in Washington, our Compadre served as a civilian cable and radio censor for military and naval intelligence, as a Bexar County probation officer, the deputy director of the San Antonio housing authority, and as a city councilman in San Antonio and the Texas State Senate fighting for our communities. Henry B. spoke for those who had no voice of their own. Then State Senator Gonzalez is also known for his famous filibuster. To this day, as a State Senator in Texas, he still holds the record for the longest filibuster. And his filibuster helped kill several bills, in fact almost 20 or 30 bills, that were still pending in the Texas House that would have overridden and circumvented the Supreme Court decisions regarding segregation. Congressman Gonzalez shepherded the construction of a medical school in San Antonio and veterans hospital in San Antonio, he brought the HemisFair exposition to the city, he passed measures protecting San Antonio's vital drinking water supply, supported area military installations, and worked to expose the 1980 savings and loan scandal. As a partisan firebrand in the United States Congress and chairman of the House Committee on Banking, Henry B. was tireless at his work. As chairman, he helped to usher over 71 bills through the legislative process. He was an advocate for making more credit available to small businesses, helping find safe places for people to put their savings, and reauthorizing the Federal housing loans and laws. In 1997, from the floor of the United States House of Representatives, our Compadre introduced me to the country as I was sworn in to the Congress. As he introduced me to his colleagues of more than 30 years, I recalled with great pride his leadership throughout the years that he had espoused. I also thought back to that one day when some 40 years before that I had had a chance to meet him for the first time and marveled at how far our community and Nation had come because of this single man. It is with deep sadness that we say good-bye to a true American hero. Henry B. dedicated his life to public service and we have all benefitted from his kindness and his wisdom. Mr. Speaker, I will attach additional documentation on Mr. Gonzalez at this point for the Record. Henry B. Gonzalez; United States Representative, Democrat of Texas Eighty-seventh-One Hundred Fourth Congresses, November 4, 1961-Present A strong personality who has received national attention for his various crusades, Henry Gonzalez was the first Hispanic Representative from Texas, and has served in Congress longer than any other Hispanic. He was born Enrique Barbosa Gonzalez in San Antonio, Texas on May 3, 1916. His parents, Leonides Gonzalez Cigarroa and Genoveva Barbosa Prince de Gonzalez, fled to San Antonio from the state of Durango in northern Mexico during the Mexican Revolution in 1911. Leonides Gonzalez had served as mayor of the town of Mapimi, Durango in Mexico. Henry Gonzalez attended public schools and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1935. He continued his education at the University of Texas and San Antonio College. In 1943 he graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law. Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he was called to government service and worked as a civilian cable and radio censor for military and naval intelligence. After graduation he worked as assistant juvenile probation officer, quickly rising to chief probation officer of the Bexar County Juvenile Court. In 1947 he was hired by the Pan American Progressive Association as executive assistant. From 1947 to 1951 he helped his father ran a translation service in San Antonio. In 1953, with the support of Mexican-Americans and Anglos, Gonzalez was elected to the San Antonio City Council, serving as mayor pro-tempore for part of his first term. In the city council he spoke against segregation of public facilities, and the council passed desegregation ordinances. In 1956 he was elected to the State Senate; he was subsequently reelected and served until 1961. In 1957 Gonzalez, along with Senator Abraham Kazen, attracted national attention for holding the longest filibuster in the history of the Texas Legislature, which lasted thirty-six hours. They succeeded in killing eight out of ten racial segregation bills that were aimed at circumventing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Among his other achievements in the Senate were a slum clearance law and the passage of a bill for the creation of a medical school. In 1958 Gonzalez unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Texas; although an unlikely candidate, he wanted to offer an alternative to the race between Governor Daniel and former governor W. Lee O'Daniel. During the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy requested Gonzalez's help in organizing Viva Kennedy Clubs throughout the country. Gonzalez and U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez of New Mexico served as national co-chairman. Gonzalez was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Paul J. Kilday (D-TX), who had been appointed to the Court of Military Appeals. In 1961 he was elected with over half of the votes. Subsequently he has faced little challenge in reelection bids; he has generally won with at least eighty percent of the vote and a number of times he has run unopposed. Although he has supported and initiated legislation for the welfare of Hispanics, he has never run on a Hispanic platform. As a Representative, Gonzalez quickly got attention in 1963. He received substantial publicity when he voted against additional appropriations for the House Committee on Un- American Activities, because it received more money than other committees that produced more reports and legislation. During his first term, Gonzalez was assigned to the Committee on Banking and Currency, which in 1977 became the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee, where he worked for the passage of a number of legislative proposals of the New Frontier and Great Society including the Housing Act of 1964. He worked on legislation that was eventually incorporated into the Equal Opportunities Act of 1964, and supported the Library Service Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition, Chairman Wright Patman (D- TX) appointed Gonzalez as a special liaison representative on Latin-American affairs; Gonzalez attended the Inter-American Development Bank Board of Directors conference in Panama in April 1964. During the 1960's he also campaigned to put and end to the bracero program, which allowed the use of foreign labor to harvest agricultural crops. He criticized the program for the deplorable conditions under which laborers worked. In the 1970's Gonzalez continued with his crusades. In 1977 he gained national attention as Chairman of the House Assassinations Committee that was established to investigate the murders of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Animosity developed between Gonzalez and the attorney who headed the probe. Gonzalez quit within weeks, due to the fact that in his opinion the investigation was doomed because powerful forces in organized crime were against it. He also urged an investigation of the murder of Judge John W. Wood in San Antonio. When the indictments were handed down, Federal prosecutors thanked Gonzalez for his perseverance. As a member of the House Small Business Committee in the 94th Congress, Gonzalez served as Chairman of the ad hoc subcommittee on the Robinson-Patman Act, Anti-trust Legislation, and Related Matters. He played a key role in salvaging the Robinson-Patman Act, which some consider to be the ``Magna Carta'' of small business. During the 1970's Gonzalez opposed nuclear power and introduced legislation to phase out existing nuclear facilities, and continued his work in support of public housing. In 1981 Gonzalez became the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development, where he worked on legislation to approve a program to assist families who faced foreclosure on their homes. Later he battled the Reagan administration when it proposed cuts in public housing programs. With the leadership of Gonzalez as Chairman of the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee, the committee was able to enact many pieces of legislation, including flood insurance reform, major housing initiatives, increasing the accessibility to credit to small business, and strengthening anti-money laundering laws, bank fraud, and other financial crimes. In addition, through his efforts with legislation and through hearings, he succeeded in making the Federal Reserve more publicly accountable. During his ten year Chairmanship (1971-1981) of the Banking Committee's Subcommittee on International Development Institutions, and Finance, he sponsored an amendment to a number of international banking bills. The ``Gonzalez amendment.'' as it was commonly known, protects U.S. citizens from expropriation by countries that receive loans from international development institutions to which the U.S. contributes. During his tenure as Chairman of the Banking Committee, Gonzalez had to deal with the collapse of the savings and loan industry, a crisis he had predicted throughout the 1980's. In 1991 he led a restructuring of the federal deposit insurance system. As Chairman he earned a reputation for being a fair leader who allowed equitable participation in the creation of bills. Gonzalez was once again in the national spotlight in 1992, when he requested an investigation of the Bush administration's involvement in loans to Iraq. In addition to his legislative career Gonzalez has served seven times as a House Delegate to the Mexico-United States Interparliamentary Conference, and has received numerous awards from universities, including honorary doctorates from St. Mary's University and from Our Lady of the Lake College.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), our dean and chairman.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today in support of the motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 4577 by my friend and colleague, Representative Ken Bentsen. The Bentsen motion to instruct urges conferees to do the right thing by providing adequate funding levels for Medicaid. We face a health crisis in our states because the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 put Medicaid rates too low. Everyone is impacted: physicians, hospitals, home health providers, and nursing homes. Many of the health care providers in my district and throughout my state face severe financial difficulties due to low Medicaid rates. These Medicaid reimbursement reductions have especially hurt our nursing homes. The situation in Texas is a good example of why we need immediate action. Today I released a special report prepared by the minority staff of the House Committee on Government Reform, ``Nursing Home Conditions in Texas,'' which found widespread inadequacies--sometimes horrible situations--in our nursing homes. In many nursing homes in Texas and across the country, our parents and grandparents suffer intolerable conditions. More than half of the nursing homes in Texas had violations of federal health and safety standards that caused actual harm to residents, or placed them at risk of death or serious injury. Another 29 percent of Texas nursing homes had violations that created potentially dangerous situations. In other words, 4 out of 5 nursing homes in Texas violated federal health and safety standards during recent state inspections. Why are the conditions so bad? One reason is inadequate levels of staffing. In Texas, more than 90 percent of the homes do not have the minimal staffing levels recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And why are staffing levels so low? Because the low level of funding makes it impossible for nursing homes to provide adequate care. This Congress still has the opportunity to address these glaring problems. The Bentsen motion would be a bold step in defense of our most vulnerable seniors by requiring states to provide adequate reimbursements to all health care providers.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce the Hispanic Health Act of 2000, legislation to address disparities in access to health care, research, program funding, cultural competence, and representation of Latino health care professionals. This legislation aims to reduce these disparities in three specific disease areas that particularly impact the Hispanic community: diabetes, HIV/ AIDS, and mental health in the Hispanic community. As Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Health, I am committed to fighting the health disparities that Hispanics face in this country. Last year, I and the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus released a Report on Hispanic Health in the United States. The report was a direct result of testimony received from community leaders, health providers, and policy makers in a series of forums during the first ever Hispanic Health Awareness Week in September, 1999. The report summarizes the findings from the experts and outlines their recommendations to improve health care delivery to Hispanics. Racial and ethic minorities continue to experience serious disparities in health. The report's findings demonstrate the seriousness of the situation and the need for immediate action. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases, and it is the most common form seen in the Latino community. Among Hispanics, type 2 diabetes is twice as high compared to non-Hispanic whites. Six percent of Hispanics in the United States and Puerto Rico have been diagnosed and it is estimated that another six percent have undiagnosed diabetes. One out of every four Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans ages 45 and older have diabetes. One out of three elderly Hispanics have diabetes. Hispanics account for 20% of new AIDS cases, but only 11% of the population. In 1997, AIDS was the third leading cause of death among Hispanics between the ages of 25 and 44, and 10th for Hispanics of all ages. Mexican American women are more likely to report severe depression than their non-Hispanic white, or African American female peers. Substance abuse increased among Hispanic youth at the same time that it declined for non-Hispanic white and African American youth. Those at greatest risk appear to be Hispanic girls. Hispanic girls now lead girls nationwide in rates of suicide attempt, alcohol and drug abuse, and self-reported gun possession. The Hispanic Health Act of 2000 reflects the recommendations outlined in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Report on Hispanic Health in the United States. One of the most important issues that this legislation addresses in data collection and research funding. If we do not address disparities in research, we are not going to develop cures that address the health disparities that exist in Hispanic and other minority communities. With a clearer understanding of what we face, we can then deliver culturally competent health services that meet the needs of these communities. This legislation requests an annual report from the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the progress of Latino initiatives throughout the agency regarding diabetes, HIV infection, AIDS, substance abuse and mental health. This information will prove invaluable in monitoring the responsiveness of HHS to the health needs of the Hispanic community and will give us the tools to direct resources were effectively in the future. The legislation authorizes two diabetes programs to reduce the devastating impact of this disease on Hispanic-Americans. To increase prevention activities, the bill authorizes $100 million for the National diabetes Education Program of the Center for Disease Control. These activities include identifying and targeting geographic areas that experience a high incidence of diabetes and diabetes related deaths particularly in the Hispanic community with educational and screening programs. In addition, this bill authorizes $1 billion to the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to implement the recommendations of its Diabetes Research Working Group. This working group's plan was developed and delivered to Congress pursuant to the Fiscal Year 2000 Appropriations Act of the Department of Health and Human Services. On HIV and AIDS, the legislation requests a plan from the Centers for Disease Control to address the under-representation of Hispanics in Community Planning Programs. The legislation also calls for the establishment of AIDS education and training centers at eligible Hispanic Serving Institutions funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration. An emphasis shall be placed on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate training of health providers to deliver bilingual HIV treatment and education. In too many cases, the lack of appropriate information creates a barrier to prevention and treatment, costing countless lives and suffering. In an effort to reverse the trends in Latina suicides, the legislation establishes a female adolescent suicide prevention program. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in The Hispanic Health Act of 2000 also provides for bilingual health professional training with respect to minority health conditions. The bill authorizes $1 million for the development of culturally competent educational materials and technical assistance in carrying out programs that use such materials. In addition, it provides an additional $5 million for a Center for Linguistic and Cultural Competence in Health Care through the Office of Minority Health. A cultural competence demonstration project in the legislation would provide grants to two hospitals that have a history in the Medicare program. The hospitals shall receive a $5 million grant for five years to enable them to implement standards for culturally competent services to address the needs of any population that is 5% or more of the total population they serve. An additional $1 million is provided for the purpose of program evaluation. The bill allows for hospitals to use disproportionate share hospital funding to pay for translators for a population that is limited English proficient and makes up 10% or more of the population they serve. Increasing the numbers of Hispanics who join the health professions is a necessary component of any plan to reverse the historical disparities faced by the community. The Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools provision authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give grants to Hispanic-serving health professions schools for the purpose of carrying out programs to recruit Hispanic individuals to enroll in and graduate from the schools. More Hispanic health professionals will assist greatly in providing culturally competent and linguistically appropriate care. Finally, the Hispanic Health Act requires the Secretary to include data on race and ethnicity in health data collected under programs carried out by the Secretary. Outcome measures will be developed to evaluate, by race and ethnicity, the performance of health care programs and projects that provide care to individuals under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Hispanic Health Act of 2000 fills an important gap in research, program implementation and evaluation, training, and facilitating cultural competence in health care institutions. I ask my colleagues to join us in taking the historic steps needed to reverse the trends that have left too many behind.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2614. While I believe that there are many good provisions in this bill, I must object to it because it does not restore Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) benefits to legal immigrant women and children. In 1995, Congress imposed a 5-year ban on providing Medicaid and CHIP coverage to recently qualified immigrants. In 1996, Congress passed an immigration bill that split families; threw out due process; and took away discretion. But, worst of all, Congress took away compassion. So, I'm not here just as a Member of Congress or as the Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Task Force. I'm here as an American upset with the laws that discriminate against my fellow human beings. Today we stand before you to defend the women and children who fled tyranny and poverty only to be denied the health care afforded other Americans. We are talking about people that came here legally, play by the rules, and pay taxes. I firmly believe that we should include a provision that give states the option to provide SCHIP and Medicaid benefits to lawfully present immigrant low-income pregnant women and children. Children and pregnant women who are denied coverage through the SCHIP and Medicaid 5-year ban usually can't get other vital health care coverage. As a matter of decency, as a matter of economics, as a matter of public health, legal immigrant children and pregnant women deserve the same access to essential health care coverage offered to citizens. For pregnant women and their children, regular prenatal care and early intervention saves lives and dollars. Children who have routine office visits and immunizations grow to be healthy adults with less medical complications. Children monitored by pediatricians are less likely to be victimized by chronic and communicable diseases. Preventive care minimizes emergency room visits, a costly and inefficient way of providing health care. Remember, diseases do not ask to see a passport. The 5-year ban on providing Medicaid and CHIP coverage has been the greatest barrier to health care for legal immigrants. It's time to make the system fair for everyone.

Mr. RODRIGUEZ

Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to appeal to the Republican side to look at the immigration law from 1996. The 1996 law on immigration took away all discretion. The 1996 law took away all due process. The 1996 law splits apart families. The 1996 law took away all compassion. We need to repeal the most punitive aspects of the 1996 immigration law. We need to restore fairness and equity to the system of immigration and naturalization. We need to give parity to Central Americans who fled for their lives. We need to allow for families to reside together, where they will be able to apply for an application without having to leave this country. We need to make sure and make clear that this law will be changed. And we need to make sure that both Customs and the Commerce, Justice, State bills do not pass until we make sure this immigration law is taken care of. I ask the Republican side that everything be done to make sure that equal treatment be taken into consideration in this particular piece of legislation. I ask for consideration in amending the 1996 piece of legislation.