Loretta Sanchez

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for H.R. 1298, the United States Leadership Against HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003. This bill provides desperately needed funds to combat the global HIV/ AIDS pandemic, and we must act now. The fact that such a bill is before us today is due to the efforts of grassroots organizations all over this country. I would like to personally thank Thomas Peterson and the Aids Services Foundation of Orange County. Their efforts save lives, and I applaud their commitment and compassion. In addition to the funding provided in the bill, this legislation also advances the so-called ABC methodology for prevention: Abstinence, Be Faithful, use Condoms--in that order. Apparently this is not enough for the right wing of the Republican Party. They will offer amendments to make it an abstinence only bill. I urge this body to reject such proposals. Mr. Hyde has done a fantastic job in drafting a bill that should have broad bipartisan support, and I commend him and thank him for his efforts. He has set forth a reasonable and sane program for prevention of HIV/AIDS, and we should not let uncompromising ideology prevent us from saving the lives of millions of people.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment over the Rules Committee's decision that the amendment offered by myself and several other distinguished members of the Select Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security was not ruled in order. Furthermore, debate was once again stifled in this House by the majority's decision not to allow even the democratic substitute offered by my friend, Mr. Rangle. My amendment would have addressed critical vulnerabilities in our nation's infrastructure, vulnerabilities that if exploited by our enemies will have terrible costs in both lives and dollars. It would have done this by delaying for only one year the implementation of the dividend portion of the tax cut. As I speak, several areas of critical infrastructure remain vulnerable to terrorist attacks. We are, without a doubt, still living in a dangerous time. Neither Saddam Hussein nor his weapons of mass destruction have been found. The next attack on America could come at any time. We cannot afford to wait any longer to shore up our homeland defenses. Due to the urgent nature of this request, we felt that delaying a portion of the tax cut package was the obvious way to pay for these critical projects. That delay would have generated 4 billion dollars. That represents only seven-tenths of one percent of the tax cut we are discussing today. Seven-tenths of one percent! For that comparatively small cost, the citizens of this country could have been made a lot safer. That tiny fraction of this tax package would have been used to: Help safeguard millions of our citizens by completing necessary chemical plant vulnerability assessments; Increase the National Guard's Civil Support teams so that they are protecting the citizens of all 50 states; Provide needed physical security at federal dams and waterways all across this country; Enhance port security by funding port security grants; Increase the size of our Coast Guard; Increase the number of inspectors at our border; Enhance the safety and efficacy of our firefighters with firefighter assistance grants and grants for interoperability with police and emergency medical personnel; And provide more security to our Nation's food and water supplies. And this is only a portion of the programs my amendment would fund. Once again, I must highlight how much we could have gotten--for so little. As I said earlier, this amendment would not have affected 99.3 percent of the tax cut package. Sadly, the message from the Republicans is clear: They care more about cutting taxes for the wealthy than protecting the public. They will not even sacrifice less than one percent of their ill- advised tax cut to help keep the citizens of our country safe from terrorist threats. H.R. 2 violates 4 Rules of the House, so the Rules Committee granted H.R. 2 special protections. Instead of being fair and granting the same protections to my amendment or the Democratic Substitute, they refused and ruled us out of order. They did the same thing to all the other important amendments offered by the Democrats. The Republicans have turned this House, the people's House, into a dark place where debate is feared because it just might shine some light on the unjust policies that they want to shove down the throats of the American people. This is not right, it is not fair, it is un-democratic, and it is un- American.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against H.R. 1261, the Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act. The unemployment rate in this country jumped to 6 percent last month, leaving 8.8 million Americans without a job. The Republican response to this crisis is a very weak bill that does nothing to creates jobs for American workers. The bill also eliminates funding to provide job search and job training assistance to dislocated workers and to those affected by these mass layoffs. Moreover, this bill does nothing to restore the $440 million in cuts already imposed on the job training programs of this Nation, nor does it protect against an additional $265 million in proposed cuts for fiscal year 2004. We need to enact legislation that creates jobs. This bill, coupled with another large tax cut, does nothing to help low-income workers who need relief from this struggling economy. What will it take for this administration to realize that their plans are not working? 7 percent unemployment? 10 percent unemployment? I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 1261 and the other legislation that leaves our Nation's unemployed workers behind.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Asian Pacific Islander Month. This national celebration, which started in 1977, continues to highlight and bring awareness to the many accomplishments and contributions that the Asian-Pacific Americans have made to this country. The month of May was selected for this very important celebration to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in 1843. As of the last census, there are an estimated 12.5 million Asian-Pacific Islanders in the United States. Representing the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam, I know firsthand the richness of the culture and beauty that they, along with the rest of the Asian communities, bring to this Nation. For generations, Asian-Pacific Americans have sacrifice for this country, and they have contributed to our growth and to our prosperity. This national celebration is a great way to honor all of their achievements.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Juan Martin Castillo, the recipient of the 2003 Human Relations Award given by the Orange County Human Relations Commission. The recipients of the Human Relations Awards are named for making significant contributions to the county, by demonstrating commitment to human and civil rights, and by fostering respect and understanding among people of all backgrounds. Mr. Castillo has met all of the above. He organized the very first meetings of the Latino branch of the Orange County Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. With Mr. Castillo's help and dedication to the organization, monthly meetings consist of dozens of parents and friends who gather to share stories and laughter, and to offer support. I am very proud of the work Mr. Castillo has done in his community. I commend him for his work to make our world a more tolerant place to live.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fire Chief Cameron Robert Phillips, of Garden Grove, California. Chief Phillips, a native of California and a man who has dedicated his time to the City of Garden Grove, will be retiring this month as fire chief of the Garden Grove Fire Department. Chief Phillips began his career with the fire department in 1974, when he became a firefighter. He later became a paramedic, and then went on to be a fire engineer. With hard work he was promoted to fire chief in 1999. Chief Phillips has also been very active in his community, serving as Vice Chair of the Governing Board at Garden Grove Hospital. He has also been involved with the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Fire Protection Agency. Chief Phillips has dedicated his life to serving his community and putting his life at risk to save others. I wish him well in his retirement.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the Anaheim City School District for emphasizing the importance of literacy in their curriculum. With a few thousand dollars left in its Proposition 10 budget, the early childhood education office put together ``literacy baskets'' that included crayons, alphabet books, puzzles, and other educational materials. These baskets will be given to adults to take home and throw ``literacy parties'' where they can invite neighbors, friends and relatives over and discuss practical tips on teaching toddlers how to read. The program has been so successful, that it is quickly running out of baskets. A survey by UCLA and the Field Institute shows that nearly half of all adults do not read to their children. Educators believe that rate is worse for low-income families. I want to applaud the Anaheim City School District for working hard to promote literacy to young children. The ``literacy baskets'' will help to improve early literacy and make a difference for thousands of kids.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Catherine Spear of Orange County, California. A published poet, and leader in her community, Catherine was recently named executive director of the nonprofit Catholic Charities of Orange County. Catherine is known in her community as an expert fundraiser, raising millions for schools in Orange County. This talent serves her well as executive director, bringing sound business experience to a nonprofit to help Catholic Charities serve the community. The agency's mission is to serve the poor, help immigrants settle into their new communities, and serve food to needy families. The agency is open to persons of other religious faiths, and is separate from the Diocese of Orange. Catholic Charities served over 92,000 people last year. And with the leadership of Catherine, I believe that Catholic Charities will become even more of an asset to its community. I wish Catherine the best of luck.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong concerns over the current state of the economy and the President's solution to stimulate this economy. The President has defended his proposal for a tax cut of at least $550 billion, arguing that a large tax cut will create more jobs. Now, let us see. The last tax cut that this President did was signed into law, and it was the largest tax cut in history, with a cost nearing $2 trillion. How effective has that been in creating jobs? Let us see. It is estimated that 53,000 United States workers lost their jobs this month alone. Unemployment is still hovering around 6 percent. So it looks to me like the President is using more of his fuzzy math here. We need to work to come up with real solutions that reduce unemployment and that help us with respect to education, the environment, child care, and, yes, a prescription drug plan for seniors. If Members want to cut taxes, then alleviate the tax burden on the working poor and on the middle class; do not do it to the wealthy, who are the least likely to get this economy turning.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, autism is currently the third most common developmental disability. It is more common than Downs syndrome. A majority of the public, including those who work in schools, do not really know, when they see it, what is happening. They are unaware of how autism affects people, and they are not trained well in how to work effectively with individuals who have autism. Autism interferes with the normal development of the brain in areas of reasoning and social interaction, and so people with autism can, in particular in more extreme cases, exhibit unusual responses that most of us may not understand: aggressiveness, for example; committing self- injury to themselves. It is a behavior that is of special concern because in responding to situations, it is difficult. Especially if you are in the classroom or in a school situation, or even in the learning environment, how you respond to the child is important. It is absolutely necessary to provide funding to train our special ed teachers regarding autism disorders, and it is also important to provide that training to school safety personnel and to other first responders who deal with the school setting. What we have had in the past are people, law enforcement sometimes, who do not really understand what type of a child this may be. Therefore, they may handle them in a different way, in an incorrect way, where they might be more injurious towards the student. That is why the Sanchez amendment would include language in this bill that would authorize the use of funds to develop and to improve programs to train school safety personnel and first responders who work with our school facilities to recognize autism spectrum disorders. The goal of the amendment, Mr. Chairman, is to train school safety personnel and other first responders.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a fallen American hero. Edward Smith spent his adult life protecting his fellow citizens, first as a Marine and then as a reserve SWAT police officer in the Anaheim Police Department. In January, he submitted his application to retire from the Marine Corps to become a full-time policeman in Anaheim when the Secretary of the Navy froze all retirements for Marines for 12 months. On January 31, he and his unit, the 2nd Tank Battalion of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit set off for the Iraqi theater. Edward Smith and his company of 200 Marines were involved in a fierce firefight in Basra where he was killed in the line of duty. I am sure my colleagues all join me in paying tribute to Smitty, as he was known by his friends and comrades-in-arms, and to express our condolences and our gratitude to his wife, Sandy, and his children, Nathan, Ryan and Shelby.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of two of Vietnam's most prominent Buddhist leaders and outspoken dissidents, the most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang, patriarch of the banned Unified Church of Vietnam, and his deputy, the Venerable Thich Quang Do, a 2003 Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Last week, 36 of my colleagues joined me in sending an urgent appeal to the Government of Vietnam, calling for the immediate release of both of these individuals, both of whom are facing complications from advancing age and deteriorating health. Both men have been detained without charge or trial for most of the past 25 years for their peaceful advocacy of human rights and religious freedom, rights guaranteed by the Vietnamese constitution and by the U.N. Covenant on Human Rights, which Vietnam has both ratified and has pledged to uphold. The Venerable Thich Quang Do's alleged crimes included launching an appeal for democracy in Vietnam and organizing a humanitarian effort to rescue flood victims. I urge the Government of Vietnam to release these two men.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak against the supplemental bill proposed by the Bush administration. While Democrats strongly support the immediate passing of whatever is necessary to support our troops, the administration's war supplemental appears to leave critical areas severely underfunded. Under the bill, there would be no money, no money, to provide communication equipment for first responders, leaving many local police, firefighters, and emergency workers unable to communicate with each other during an emergency. There would be no money, no money, for homeland security grants, despite the Coast Guard's latest report that they are short almost $1 billion to meet port security needs in this year alone. This bill also leaves nuclear security needs amounts unmet, providing only 7 percent of the $380 million which his own Secretary of Energy identified as an urgent homeland security requirement. This bill is bad for the economy, and it is bad for our Nation's first responders. Underfunding critical programs and operations puts our homeland at risk.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Bill Mauldin. Mr. Mauldin is best known for his cartoon ``Willie and Joe'' which was published in Stars and Stripes and other military newspapers. His cartoon of World War II infantrymen marching their way across Europe and surviving the enemy endeared him to thousands of soldiers. Mr. Mauldin enlisted in 1940 and was assigned as a rifleman to the 180th Infantry. It was here where he started drawing cartoons and where he received his inspiration for ``Willie and Joe.'' Five years later he won his first Pulitzer Prize. He later worked for the Sun Times and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he won his second Pulitzer Prize. Throughout his entire life, Mr. Mauldin continued to receive praise and gratitude for his inspirational cartoons. He was not only admired by soldiers, but by his community as well for bringing laughter and comfort during difficult times. He will truly be missed.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Teddy, a bull mastiff from Santa Ana, for winning Best of Breed at the Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City, which was held on February 10 and 11, 2003. The Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show was initiated 120 years ago to increase an interest in dogs, and thus improve the breeds. The dog show lasts 2 days and is held annually in New York City. The competition features entries from every state and many from Canada and other countries as well. Approximately a quarter of a million dogs have been in competition at Westminister's shows. Teddy was among 2,500 dogs that participated in this year's show. As a pet owner and animal lover, I truly appreciate the love and joy that animals provide. I am very proud of Teddy and owner Carol Beans for their wonderful achievement. I wish them continued success in future competitions.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a major health problem facing American women--heart disease. Heart disease, is the number one killer of women in the United States, killing more than 250,000 women a year. This is 10 times as many women as those who die from breast cancer. Heart attacks in women can often lead to other significant health problems like heart failure, stroke, and sudden cardiac death. Poor eating habits, lack of exercise, high cholesterol and smoking are just a few of the risk factors that cause heart disease. It is important that all women get screened and take the necessary steps to prevent this deadly disease. We must work to encourage women in our districts to see their doctor regularly and learn healthy habits that may save them from heart disease.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very good friend of mine and Costa Mesa's mayor, Karen L. Robinson. Mayor Robinson was recently appointed as a judge of the Orange County Superior Court, making her the first black woman appointed to our county bench. Robinson currently supervises five attorneys as the litigation counsel coordinator for the California State University System, and she also serves as a judge pro tempore, presiding over small-claims cases for the county's municipal and superior courts. Robinson's appointment as a judge is not the first time that she has made history. In 2000 she was named to the Costa Mesa City Council and in 2002 was named mayor. Both are firsts for an African American in that city in Orange County. I would like to congratulate Robinson on her outstanding achievements and all of her contributions to our community, and I know that she will have even more successes in her career, and I wish her the best.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding me this time. I rise today to join my colleagues in expressing my frustration and my disappointment in that our first responders are being neglected in this effort to supplement the cost of the war. I am disappointed on behalf of the first responders in our district in Orange County, California. I am disappointed because the police in Anaheim, California are being forced to spend an additional $20,640 a day to maintain their readiness under the orange threat level. Mr. Chairman, $20,640 per day. The Federal Government is telling these local officers at what level they must remain alert and yet adequate funding is not being provided. This mirrors what is going on all across our Nation. All of our first responders are responding every single day to the threat that still exists against this country. They are responding with additional officers, with additional sergeants, and with the additional overtime necessary to keep their forces alert. Our first responders are fighting the war, and we should be funding them.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dr. Willis K. ``Billy'' Duffy Jr., a member of one of Orange County's pioneering black families. Mr. Duffy was born in a small house in Santa Ana, where his father became the first black property owner in 1920. He attended Santa Ana High School where he became an all-State football star and student body president. At 17, Billy graduated high school early to train as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II. He then went home to attend UCLA where he played halfback on the football team. Billy also studied dentistry at Howard University in Washington, DC, and ran a successful practice in Los Angeles before his retirement in 1992. He was also active with the NAACP and the Los Angeles Police Department. Billy's drive and ambition for success was truly an inspiration to those he met. During Black History month, we should all reflect upon the contributions of citizens like Billy Duffy who have made significant contributions to our Nation.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Orange County astronomer William Kuhn. Mr. Kuhn's fascination with astronomy began in his youth. At 18 he built his first telescope, and he continued to design and build telescopes his whole life. In 1963, Mr. Kuhn moved to Orange County, where he taught astronomy to hundreds of people in his backyard. He helped to make the Orange County Astronomers one of the best amateur astronomy groups in the nation. His greatest accomplishments included the discovery of eight supernovae and more than twenty asteroids, all discovered with his own 22-inch telescope. Mr. Kuhn's contributions and dedication to astronomy will live on through future generations of astronomers. And his passion for exploring the mysteries of our universe will never be forgotten by the amateur astronomers in Orange County.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the importance of adequate security at our Nation's ports. On Monday, President Bush visited the Port of Philadelphia to praise our Coast Guard on their increased role at ports and to promote new security under Operation Liberty Shield. However, during this visit, the President failed to mention that the Coast Guard has reported receiving only a fraction of the resources they need to secure these ports, or that the President did not ask for any future port grant funding in either the supplemental spending bill or his fiscal 2004 budget request, no funding to fill in the gaping holes in our port security needs. Just outside of my district, are two ports, the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. Last year, an estimated 4 million cargo containers passed through those ports, 35 percent of all U.S. international trade. Less than 4 percent of those containers were screened. Our ports of entry are some of the most vulnerable threat risks in our Nation and we need to provide the means and the resources necessary for adequate security.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H. Res. 59.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, while our brave soldiers continue their work abroad, our citizens back home must live under a constant state of Orange Alert. The administration has implemented Operation Liberty Shield. Therefore, it is no secret that a threat still looms on our home front, so we must not forget that this war is not just being fought abroad. Therefore, it is essential that the supplemental spending bill include necessary funding to meet the needs of the Nation's homeland security. In my district the Anaheim Police Department is presently spending an extra $21,000 per day to maintain Level Orange threat. If our Nation goes to Level Red, this number will double to $40,000 per day. Also, joint terrorism task forces have been set up in a number of cities to coordinate the dissemination of information and strategies dealing with potential terrorism. These task forces give local law enforcement the unique opportunity to train, coordinate, and work closely with Federal agencies like the FBI, the INS, the marshals, Customs, and the Secret Service to share information and develop a coordinated process for combating terror threats, but there is no funding, no resources to adequately implement this. While we continue to fight for additional resources for our first responders, we must not forget that the main thing we need to do is prevent any future terrorist attacks. This week the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States received testimony from experts on the state of our Nation's homeland security. The testimony was not pretty. Our Nation's ports were referred to as porous, our civil aviation facilities called unprepared, and our immigration check points deficient. Our ports of entry are some of the most vulnerable threat risks to this Nation, and we need to provide the means and the resources for adequate security. Every year more than 6 million cargo containers pass through our ports; 4 million of those, accounting for 35 percent of all international trade to the U.S. pass just 20 miles away from my home through Long Beach and L.A. ports, yet only 4 percent of these are screened. But the President responded to these requests with only $22 million, just a third of what we need. But the President responded to these requests with only $22 million, a third of what the Customs Service deemed necessary. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard requested nearly $1 billion in Port Security Grant money to address gaps in the physical security of the ports it patrols. To date, only 40 percent of that needed funding has been granted. While the President says in speech after speech that he is taking port security seriously, neither his FY04 budget request nor his supplemental funding request contained money for Port Security. Our ports are still extremely vulnerable, and full funding of Port Security Grants and the Container Security Initiative are imperative. immigration Of course, our Nation's security risks do not lie exclusively at our ports. We need funding to make sure that border and airport security are adequately staffed to screen entry into our country. Presently, the government watch list used to screen for suspected terrorists entering the U.S. has 13 million names, including 40 percent more records of suspected terrorists than last year. These numbers are unrealistic, and we need to hire the personnel and develop the accounting systems to make us smarter about keeping track of threats while still allowing legitimate visitors in. Right now, our universities are facing a crisis because visa backlogs and the government's new foreign student tracking system are slowing the ability for good, qualified students to participate in our university system. We cannot develop new immigration systems at the expense of undermining the diversity that makes our nation great. conclusion As the war goes on in Iraq, we face a great challenge here at home. Our homeland security needs are great, and many of them are not met. We need to work hard, we need to work efficiently, and we need to work intelligently to ensure we are doing everything possible to protect our communities.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the actions taken by the Republicans in this House to drastically cut the funding for veterans programs. While thousands of brave men and women are fighting for our country and risking their lives every single day, the House majority party voted for the GOP budget resolution which would cut veterans programs by $28.8 billion. This cut in programs includes money for health care, for disability compensation, pensions, and other benefits. The Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the American Legion have all issued statements opposing this budget. We cannot in good conscience commit men and women to defend this Nation while at the same time reducing the benefits they are entitled to and deserve, because after all, what message, what message does this send to those that have and those that are serving our country? I am appalled at the actions of the Republican House. While brave men and women are defending our freedom, we must defend their right to receive their benefits.

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the fundraising efforts of the teachers and faculty at the Orange County High School of the Arts, in Santa Ana, California. Like many schools across the nation, the Orange County High School of the Arts is facing serious budget concerns. Forecasting $600,000 in cuts, a number of janitors, clerical and cafeteria workers were laid off. School officials announced that many more teachers could be laid off during the school's second semester. In spite of these dire outlooks, teachers are leading a fund-raising effort that has raised $73,000 so far to prevent more layoffs and increases in class sizes. In a band called ``Will Play for Food,'' teachers are selling out concerts to raise money. Some have even donated back their raises. These teachers are going above and beyond their duties to maintain a high quality education at their schools. Our teachers should be using their energy to improve the performance of their students, instead of performing to keep their jobs. The bottom line is that we are leaving our children and our teachers behind. If we want to stimulate the economy and improve our country's future, the best investment we can make is the education of our youth.