Loretta Sanchez

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. I am from conservative Orange County.

Ms. SANCHEZ. One of the other myths that we have heard is somehow that Californians are just these consumption hogs with respect to electricity. I think we were looking at some statistics the other day that showed that of the 50 States, we are behind Rhode Island, number two in the least amount consumed per person in any State as far as the electricity that we use. So when people say we all are just consuming too much and leave all the lights on and we are just not paying attention to what is going on, we are actually one of the best States with respect to consumption of electricity per person in the entire United States. So I would like to dispel that myth where people are saying we just use too much energy, or we use more than the energy we should use. Also going back to the fact that this is a concern for America, there are plenty of times, and we have seen these numbers over and over, where we send a lot of tax dollars to Washington and we are what one calls a donor State. We never get as much money as we send to Washington back into California. It is usually put in the pot out here; and when relief is going on for floods in areas or droughts in areas or tornadoes in areas, our money usually goes to help other States who are in need. I would just say again that from a California perspective we are a team player. We want to be a part of the overall economy in the United States; and what has, I think, really angered some Members who are from California and the Pacific Northwest, and also many Californians, is that we have had an administration here in Washington who has basically said you all fix it; it is nobody else's problem. I think that is a very short view of what is really happening out in California.

Ms. SANCHEZ. These facilities, as the gentleman knows, of course we have a couple coming online, one even as soon as the end of this summer. Another problem that we have had is the transmission or the grid process by which we are able to transmit this energy. In fact, if one does not see it, one probably does not think about it. Think about all the people who were just used to flipping on the switch at home and never thought that electricity really came from somewhere. It was never given a second thought. There are many cases like this. I think of the water problems that our country will face in the near future or sewage problems, for example, that we see many of our cities now where their underground piping has worn out, and there is not the money to replace that unless we do it at a Federal level or with some grant process or with a real thought to what is happening underground. So I think a lot of times we get calls about fix the transportation system, or I am stuck in traffic or my plane was left on the tarmac for too long; but these other issues of will the electricity come on, will the water flow, are things that if one does not see it, we are not asked to fix it. We are not necessarily working or putting the political clout or the monies behind that. I think as a Nation we need to understand that these problems are all of our problems, and we need to come together with good policies to fix this.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, where goes California, so goes the rest of the Nation. Other States should take notice of these problems because other States will face these problems also. What has happened, our economy has expanded so greatly, we never imaged that this type of energy draw would be required in California. Many say Californians are environmentalists and did not build plants. We can take a look and know it was not because of environmental regulations we have in California that we were not getting some of these plants on-line, part of it is a wider problem that happens with a lot of infrastructure, and that is the not-in-my-backyard problem that happens with so many things, whether it is a jail or an airport or a utility plant. I think the rest of the States need to understand we need to fix this in California and in the western States because when it is your turn, you want to learn from us about how not to head into this problem.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, while many are trying to make this out as a California problem, it is my belief as an American that this is a problem for America, and we must not only address the California situation, but we also should be addressing this as a long-term policy and energy policy really for the United States. Mr. Speaker, I think there are a lot of great States. All 50 States are great. Hawaii is beautiful. I was just down in Florida, it has great beaches. Who would not be envious of the New York Stock Exchange or the Blue Ridge Mountains or Aspen in Colorado? There are a lot of great things around our Nation. Sometimes I think that people think because California is a wonderful place and we have had a great and strong economy for the past 8 years, we should be punished because something is happening in our State. The reality is that California is the sixth largest economy if it were a stand-alone Nation in the world. In a sense, we are even a larger part of what happens in the United States. One of the reasons that we have been very successful with respect to our economy is that we are a part of America. We have this ability to trade across all of the State lines. We have an ability for people to move between the 50 States. We share ideas. We get people who come to our universities from other States. We are connected as a country.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to speak in support of this legislation. This bill is proof that friends on both sides of the aisle, even those who may not agree often, can come together in a bipartisanship way to accomplish a goal. We cannot hold public schools accountable for improving education unless we give them the funds to ensure that they can meet those goals. I believe that this bill does both. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1 authorizes $24 billion in funding for our national kindergarten through 12th grade education programs, a 29 percent increase over the current fiscal year, much more than the funding levels provided by President Bush's own budget. The bill doubles title I funds over the next 5 years to $17.2 billion, and it includes real support for teacher training. I am reminded, 2 years ago when then-Vice President Al Gore was in my district and we were talking about school construction, we asked a young student about 12 years old what was the most important thing she was looking forward to in her classroom and she said, well, everybody knows, Congresswoman, that the quality of the teacher is the most important thing for a child to learn. I am excited that we are doing something about teacher training. This bill also removes provisions diverting funds from public schools, whatever the newest name for them are, including private school choice. Vouchers do not support the vast majority of the students in the United States. I am reluctant to support some parts of this legislation, but, overall, I am very proud of the work that my fellow members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce have done. And I commend both the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) for having made this bill possible, because truly without both gentlemen, this would not have gotten done. Today, the House has a rare opportunity to get some real work done, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to speak in support of this amendment, because it is a school safety measure. School safety is not just about metal detectors or locker checks. Safe schools mean that the faculty and administrators can know their students and they can watch for the warning signs of any impending violence. This is a very difficult time when most of our high schools, especially in the area I represent, have enrollments of 2,000 to 3,000 students. This is also a matter of common sense. Students feel less alienated and more connected to caring adults when they are in a smaller school. Smaller schools mean that there is improved morale. There is higher participation by the students, higher attendance, lower dropout rates, less crime, violence, alcohol, tobacco problems, fewer behavior and discipline problems. There is higher achievement in smaller schools and closer teacher- student relations. Overall, smaller schools mean safer schools. Including real support for smaller schools in the ESEA will show a commitment to providing safer and better learning communities for all of our students. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support smaller learning communities and prove this commitment. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill) for yielding me the time.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall votes numbered 126 and 127, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote numbers 109, 110, 111, 112 and 113 on May 15, 2001 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all five votes.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to pay tribute to a very extraordinary group of members who are being commemorated for the Presidential Unit Citation. These heroic members of the Strategic Technical Directorate Commandos Family passionately and diligently sacrificed their lives for ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'' for the people of Southeast Asia. During the Vietnam War, the people of Southeast Asia and the fighting soldiers of the United States faced many challenges that jeopardized their lives. But in 1964, the Strategic Technical Directorate (the U.S. joint services command) was created to help the U.S. and Southeastern Asian soldiers to fight for freedom. The Strategic Technical Directorate included the best selected group of officers. The members showed their intelligence, commitment, and bravery in combat. They selflessly risked their own lives in hopeless situations to save others. For example, in 1974, the North Vietnamese Army attacked the city of Phuoc Long. 250 Airborne Rangers came to the rescue, but they faced brutal assaults from the North Vietnamese Army and lost contact with the Strategic Technical Directorate. After a four-day search, the Strategic Technical Directorate found only 50 percent of their surviving members in the city. Another example is during April 1975. The Strategic Technical Directorate's Special Missions Services went to the city of Phan Rang, where the North Vietnamese were attacking the city. 100 of their additional commandos were captured by the North Vietnamese Army. Then the remaining Strategic Technical Directorate units went to defend Saigon. By the final days of April, the North Vietnamese Army surrounded the capital. The Strategic Technical Directorate did not give up. 500 SMS commandos, the headquarters personnel, and the Liaison Service barged in and fought until capitulation on April 30. These two examples prove how the members of STD risked their lives and put 100 percent of their diligence and commitment in winning the freedom for Southeast Asia. The members of the Strategic Technical Directorate Commandos Family will not be forgotten, but be remembered and honored, for their survival, courage, and dedication in fighting for ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' They risked their lives to help the people of Southeast Asia because they were in danger and had their human rights taken away. I ask you to join me today in recognizing these heroic figures who proved to us the meaning of bravery and diligence.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the great nation of Greece and celebrate with its citizens 180 years of independence from the Ottoman Empire. When we think about democracy in Greece, inevitably our thoughts drift to the country's venerable ancients: Solon, the lawmaker who framed Athens' constitution; the philosopher Socrates and his disciple Plato; Pericles, the leader of democratic politics in Athens. These men helped shape our concepts of philosophy, art, science and drama. Their writings and teachings influenced generations of great thinkers and are still in use at colleges and universities around the world today. They provided the basis for our founding fathers' essays and treaties on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, despite the fact that these men helped develop the ideals of democracy that we Americans hold so dear, it was not until 1821 that the Greek people declared independence and moved from beneath the thumb of the Ottoman Empire. This movement marked the beginning of true democratic freedom within the modern nation of Greece, and it is this courageous action that we honor today. The rebellion began in March 1821 when Alexandros Ypsilantis, the leader of the revolutionary Philiki Etaireia crossed the Prut River into Turkish-held Moldavia with a small force of troops. Although Ypsilantis was defeated, his actions sparked a number of revolts against the Turks on March 25, 1821, the traditional date of Greek independence. The Greeks' struggle for freedom inspired many Americans, who left our country to fight for Greece's Independence. Our great Congress also sent money and supplies to assist in Greece's struggle for autonomy. And over the years, we have worked side-by-side with Greek leaders to oppose tyranny and oppression and advance the cause of democracy worldwide. But our ties with Greece do not end with this shared commitment to the principles of democracy. Indeed, today more than 1 million people of Greek descent live in the United States. These men and women have made innumerable contributions to our society and way of life, and for this we thank them. Colleagues, please join me in saluting the people of Greece for their tremendous commitment to democracy and the principles that helped to found our nation.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dennis Weber, Commander of the California chapter of the Disabled American Veterans for his service to his community, his country and as a proud member of the Armed Services. Mr. Weber, a true Californian, was born on February 21, 1948 in Los Angeles, California. Upon graduating from high school Mr. Weber enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. While serving with the 3rd Marine Engineer Battalion near An Hoa, Mr. Weber's platoon was ambushed by the Viet Cong. As platoon leader and while severely wounded, Mr. Weber encouraged his men to stand strong against the ambush and managed to lead his platoon to safety. Unfortunately two of his men were killed in the battle. After spending a year in the hospital recovering from his wounds Mr. Weber was medically discharged and returned to Los Angeles where he immediately began serving his country's needs in the Los Angeles city government. During Mr. Weber's year as Commander he has lead the organization in assisting veterans in filing more than 16,000 claims for VA benefits, assisted in transporting more than 49,000 veterans to medical appointments covering over 1 million miles, and his given veterans countless amounts of emotional support. The State of California and this nation is proud to have Mr. Weber as a native son. Mr. Weber is an example of the finest product of this nation and I want to thank him for his professionalism, initiative and unwavering devotion to veterans. As commander of the California chapter Mr. Weber's performance has truly been in keeping with the highest tradition of the Disabled American Veterans, the state of California, and the United States of America. Colleagues, please join with me as we honor Mr. Dennis Weber with his wife Pam for his outstanding contributions to our nation.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with sadness to speak on the gentleman's resolution of which I am a cosponsor. I commend the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development of the Committee on Armed Services. This tragedy was a horrible, horrible crime. We mourn with the families who lost children, and our thoughts are with the families of the injured students and staff. But our duty goes beyond that. Our schools need to be safe places in order for learning to successfully take place. I am a cosponsor of the Excellence in Education Act, a proposal for reauthorization of our Federal elementary and secondary education programs. Included in all of that would be a Safe and Drug Free Schools program based on proven results, alternative education programs that remove violent children from our classrooms, to help to streamline and make smaller schools so that teachers, principals and administrators can get to know the children and can monitor their emotional state, and also funds for school counselors and mental health professionals to spot the students who need help from us before they turn violent. I join my colleagues in expressing our grief and sorrow, and I look forward to working with all the Members in this House to end school violence.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, when I am at home in Orange County, people continuously tell me, Pay down the debt, Loretta. Strengthen Social Security; take care of Medicare. In other words, we need to figure out our budget before we make a tax cut. The Blue Dogs have called for the largest possible tax cut available, the one that we can afford. But until we make our budget, we do not know what we can afford. No one would go out and buy a house and not do a budget. Today, in the paper, we read that the Civil Engineers of America have written a report that says our sewers are in trouble, our water pipes are in trouble, our transportation system is in trouble, aviation is in trouble. Even businessmen who have been promised the Bush tax cut will spend more time and money sitting there waiting because that runway was not built in their city. So let us do what is correct. Let us sit down and do a budget. Let us not vote for a tax cut until we know what our obligations are.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a very prominent and inspirational woman on her 103rd birthday--Sadie Vilensky. Sadie was born on March 8, 1898, in Henry Street Hospital in New York City, New York. She and her family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey in 1904. As a beautiful, young woman (she still is today), she married and moved with her husband to Scranton, Virginia in 1922. In 1929, she and her husband moved with their son and daughter to Los Angeles, California where they reside today. In the 1930's Sadie and her family joined the Beth Jacob Synagogue, an orthodox sect of the Jewish religion. She served as the secretary to the Sisterhood for many years. Today, she is the oldest member of the synagogue. Her other affiliation is with the Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary. Sadie served in many offices in the organization include being elected President of Auxiliary #66. During the 1940's Sadie was an office manager of the Mount Sinai Hospital Clinic which is now Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The hospital is a cancer treatment center for the terminally ill. Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, Sadie opened the Los Angeles Council of Mizrachi Women of America which is part of the Jewish Federation. The Los Angeles Council is the Israelis' official network for religious, secondary, and technical education. Under her guidance as the Executive Secretary, the Council assisted over 14,000 Israeli children throughout a network of 55 schools, children's homes and youth villages throughout Israel. Just before Sadie retired in the early 1970's, she was recognized for her years of commitment and service to the Jewish Federation, the Los Angeles Council of Mizachi Women of America, by being named Honorary Executive Secretary. Her national office then asked her to lead a tour of 36 men and women for a three-week Passover Tour. Sadie proclaimed that ``[the trip] fulfilled a dream of a lifetime.'' Sadie is an incredible woman who has served the community in many exceptional ways. She is a beautiful, strong, and very inspirational woman who is young at heart and full of the spirit of life. Colleagues, please join with me today in wishing a very Happy Birthday to Sadie Vilensky.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, how many more people must be hurt before this Congress does what is right? Obviously, there are over 600,000 workers a year who get hurt because of ergonomic problems. If we pass this resolution today, we are effectively saying we know one might get hurt and have injuries that last a long time, but we do not care. I am not willing to make that statement today. This standard will help countless nurses, clerks, laborers, and, yes, factory workers. Factory workers like Ignacio Sanchez, my father, who worked for 40 years in the factory because he had to support seven children. These are the type of people my colleagues hurt today by passing this resolution. The problem with the resolution is that it would not only revoke the current ergonomic standards, but it would prevent the Department of Labor from issuing future general standards. How can Congress prepare to debate a tax bill for the rich and yet hurt the working people of America? I ask my colleagues to vote against this resolution.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during Rollcall vote No. 16, on February 27, 2001 on H. Con. Res. 39 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Dale Earnhardt. His untimely death last week at age 49 has shocked not only the racing world but the world at large. A native of Kannapolis, NC, Earnhardt was born into a racing dynasty. His father, Ralph, was a legendary race car driver who won NASCAR's 1956 national championship in the Late Model Sportsman division, and Earnhardt dropped out of high school to follow in his father's footsteps. He started on the short dirt tracks in the Carolinas that made his father famous, working his way up through the ranks of NASCAR. He ran his first Winston Cup race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 1975, and by 1979 he was driving full-time. His first victory came on April 1, 1979, at Bristol, Tenn. That year proved to be a banner year for the man who would later come to be known as ``The Intimidator.'' Named the Winston Cup rookie of the year in 1979, Earnhardt became its champion the following season. During the next 15 years, he continued to amass Winston Cup titles, eventually tying racing legend Richard Petty with seven. But Earnhardt's accomplishments weren't measured by titles alone. He was a successful team owner, who died fending off the pack at Daytona so that his friend Michael Waltrip--who was driving an Earnhardt car-- could win the race. He raised four children, and passed his love of racing onto his two sons, Kerry and Dale, Jr., both of whom compete today. And his trademark black No. 3 Chevrolet became synonymous with all the adrenaline and excitement of a NASCAR race. Off the race track, Earnhardt's contributions often went unheralded. Rarely did anyone learn about the seed he bought for destitute farmers, the car parts he loaned to rival racing teams or the comfort he gave to other racers in times of despair. Colleagues, please join me in celebrating the life of Dale Earnhardt, a cultural icon whose impact on the world of racing may never be fully known.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, 45,351,200 persons received Social Security benefits just this past year. About 63 percent of those people were seniors. One must ask, has Social Security had an impact in particular to our seniors? When we take a look at the reason why Social Security was put in place, it was to help those seniors not be below the poverty line when they finished their work years. In fact, if we look even just in California, my home State, we can see that this past year 30 percent of seniors were lifted out of poverty because of their Social Security benefits. Moreover, Social Security is important for women because, as we know, women make less, and women are out of the work force more often; they change jobs, they stay home to take care of families, so they really need this in their lean years at the back end of their lives. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this important piece of legislation. 45,351,200 persons received Social Security benefits last year. Sixty-three percent of these people are retired workers. We must ask ourselves, ``What impact has Social Security had on our Nation's Seniors?'' A study issued by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, DC shows that in 1997, 47.6% of the U.S. population age 65 and older would have been living below the poverty line in 1997 without Social Security benefits. With Social Security, the poverty rate drops to 11.9%. This is a staggering statistic that demonstrates the impact of this program on our seniors nationwide. In my home state of California, the same study showed that 43.2% of people age 65 and older would have been living below the poverty line without Social Security. Social Security reduces the number to 12.5%. Thus, 30.7% of all elders in California were lifted from poverty by Social Security. Moreover, Social Security is particularly beneficial to women who receive 54% of Social Security retirement and survivor benefits. In 1997, Social Security benefits lowered the number of women living below the poverty line from 9.8 million to 2.7 million. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill and establish a Social Security and Medicare lockbox. We need to pass this bill to ensure that our current and future seniors are provided the benefits they worked so hard to earn. We must continue to move forward to ensure that both programs are ready to meet the demands of the aging Baby Boom generation and beyond.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, since none of mine have shown, if the gentleman from Ohio would like to go ahead.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how many speakers the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi) has?

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand with my colleagues and recognize our Nation's Catholic schools. First, I must point out the number of Catholic schools in our Nation. There are 8,200 elementary and secondary Catholic schools in the United States. They do, indeed, deserve to be celebrated. What a great gift to our Nation these schools provide, producing graduates who are not only academically capable but also such a great part of the community. Our Catholic schools not only teach subjects like the alphabet and the Pythagorean Theorem and the Preamble to the Constitution, but they teach our students how to be part of our communities. They teach that service to others is an integral part any life, religious or lay. They teach the dignity of the individual. They teach students to work for justice and to help each child develop a strong moral compass to follow. Today, I believe I am joined by several colleagues who also are known for their support of education. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi) have any other speakers? We do not have any on this side other than myself to close.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to close by saying that sometimes I think people think those of us who are so supportive of public schools may not be as supportive of our private schools, but the reality is that we care about all of our schools and those institutions who choose to help educate our children. Today I have been proud to talk about our Catholic schools and the way that they excel and the way that they complement the rest of the education system that we have here in the United States.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 395, which names a Post Office after Ronald W. Reagan, was introduced today by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon). This measure is identical to H.R. 5309 introduced last year by the gentleman and which was passed by the House on October 27 of the year 2000. Ronald Wilson Reagan, known as ``Dutch,'' ``The Gipper'' and ``The Great Communicator,'' was the 40th President of the United States. He served as President from January 1981 to January 1989. At 73, he was the oldest man ever elected to the Presidency. And, as remarked earlier, today marks his 90th birthday. He was an actor by profession, but he also served as the Governor of my State of California from 1966 to 1979. During his Presidency, his economic policies came to be known as ``Reaganomics.'' In November of 1994, former President Reagan announced that he was afflicted with Alzheimer's. Although a number of facilities have been named after the former President, schools, streets, highways, and even the Washington airport, a crowning achievement was when President Clinton dedicated the Ronald Reagan Building here in Washington D.C. in 1998. That building houses an international trade center, international cultural activities, the Agency for International Development, and many others. Mr. Speaker, I urge the swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.