Loretta Sanchez

Mr. SANCHEZ

Mr. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, growing up Catholic in a pretty Catholic family, I know firsthand that the Catholic Church has always sought to feed the hungry and clothe the poor. We welcome immigrants, people who speak different languages and bring very different needs. We welcome everyone as we work to help the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless. Catholic schools, too, welcome diverse studentbodies with open arms. It is not just Catholics who attend Catholic schools; children who need special attention, dedicated teachers attend Catholic schools. Families who are looking for an added dimension to faith and morals sometimes choose Catholic schools. Parents who want safe schools that excel in academics choose Catholic schools. Today with our communities' public schools, the Catholic schools and the Diocese of Orange educate, in every sense of the word, our children. Various schools, like Santa Margarita High School or Mater Dei in my own district, Servite in my district, Rosary, Connelly, and numerous elementary parochial schools, all are Catholic schools. So, Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to recognize Catholic schools and the educators, parents and parishes who make these wonderful institutions possible. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 5 on January 30, 2001, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to David Rivera Carrasco, Jr., in memory of his service to the community as a loyal citizen and as a proud member of our Armed Services. Mr. Carrasco was born on February 9, 1918 to David and Angelita Rivera Carrasco in El Paso, Texas. The family relocated to Coachella, California in 1920. In January of 1942, Mr. Carrasco was enlisted into the U.S. Army. He served seven months in the Continental Army as a military gunner and search light crew member. As a member of the 349th infantry, Mr. Carrasco was dispatched to New York to protect the Atlantic coast from foreign invasion. In August 1942, Mr. Carrasco was reassigned to serve under General George Patton's forces in Europe and Northern Africa. He served proudly under General Patton for four years as an engineer. His work in the front lines of North Africa helped to turn the tide against the Axis forces and liberate France and Italy. For his bravery and dedication, Mr. Carrasco was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for Bravery. The bravery and patriotism demonstrated by Mr. Carrasco could also be found in his brothers Joe and Samuel, who also served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Joe served under General Dwight Eisenhower and was among the first wave of soldiers to storm the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Samuel was dispatched to the Pacific Islands and served his country valiantly. Mr. Carrasco and his family are truly a distinguished part of our nation's military history. Colleagues, please join me in celebrating the life of a true American hero. Mr. Carrasco will be remembered for his service to our country and the community. He is survived by his sister Antonia Carrasco Cervantes and his brother-in-law Gregorio Cervantes, Sr. As his Representative in Congress and as a member of the Armed Services Committee, I am proud to recognize David Rivera Carrasco, Jr., for his contributions to our nation.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 594 on November 3, 2000, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 593, on November 3, 2000 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Stated against:

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote number 574 on October 29, 2000, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted yea.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote number 575 on October 29, 2000 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted yea.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 576 on October 29, 2000, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to congratulate Luis P. Villarreal, who received the 2000 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring for his work in developing science education and research programs to assist minority students at the high school and university level. Mr. Villarreal is a professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at the University of California, Irvin (UCI). He was selected as one of ten individual recipients to receive this prestigious award. Mr. Villarreal began his academic career when he enrolled in a community college to become a medical technologist. Encouraged to continue his education, he went on to complete a four year degree in chemistry and then entered graduate school. As a researcher in biology, Mr. Villarreal is currently doing research on the connection between cervical cancer and viruses. He also manages a million-dollar annual budget for the minority science program at UCI. One of his greatest accomplishments is to help struggling students achieve success in college, and to encourage them to become scientists. One of his students remarked that he is relaxed, but brilliant and very funny. Through his mentoring program, Mr. Villarreal has guided many under-represented students into the sciences. These students participate in a rigorous academic and research training program that is mentored by faculty members. The program includes paid internships, tutoring, academic advising, faculty seminars and participation at national conferences. I ask my colleagues to please join with me as we honor Mr. Luis P. Villarreal for his outstanding academic and educational achievements.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to one of California's most remarkable women, Meredith J. Khachigian. Ms. Khachigian has chaired the Board of Regents of the University of California (UC) for three terms. In this position she manages the leading public research university in the nation. With 97,000 employees and 167,000 students, the UC system includes nine university sites, a graduate health science campus in San Francisco, three law schools, five medical schools and five hospitals. The Regents oversee the University's $43 billion annual budget and also manage the UC Retirement System, the largest in the United States, and a General Endowment Pool of $5.3 billion. Ms. Khachigian is a consultant in community and public affairs and is the former Executive Director of Vital Link-Orange, a program that matches high school students' educational backgrounds with the needs of future employers. She is currently serving as a member of the Governor's School-To-Work Advisory Council for the State of California. Additionally, she represents the University on business matters through her involvement with the Orange County Business Council's workforce preparation initiative. She has served as President of Human Options, a shelter for battered women, and is the co-chair of the program's 20th anniversary celebration, which in 2001 will commemorate two decades of dedicated service in the field of domestic violence. Ms. Khachigian has combined a career in public service with her dedication to the needs of others and is well-known in the United States for her achievements. She is recognized for her expertise and is regularly asked to speak on prestigious news programs. She has served as an advocate for the University in Washington, DC, meeting with legislators on issues important to the hospitals and medical schools as well as the people of California. I ask my colleagues to please join with me in recognizing an extraordinary woman. Meredith J. Khachigian.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, tonight I would like to talk just a few minutes about Bob Weygand, a good friend of mine here in the House and a great Representative for the Second District of Rhode Island. I know that many of my colleagues share my sadness that he will be leaving the House of Representatives. As my colleagues know, he is running for the United States Senate. The gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Weygand) is no stranger to public service. He began his public service in 1978 when he became a member of the East Providence Planning Board and became its chairman in 1979. In 1984 he was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing at that time District 84. He was also named the Legislator of the Year in 1988. Bob stayed in the General Assembly until 1993, serving on a number of committees, including the House Corporations Committee on which he was the chairman. It was during his time as a State representative that Bob helped to write Rhode Island's land use laws which have been recognized nationally as state of the art with respect to land planning and the most progressive and forward thinking types of laws in this country. Bob was elected lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 1992 and he was the chairman of the Long Term Coordination Council and he authored legislation to protect the elderly and to improve access for long-term health care. The gentleman from Rhode Island was elected to the U.S. House, to this House, in 1996. He came in on January 7, 1997, the same day that I came to this House Chamber. We soon became good friends. As a Member of the Congress, Bob was chosen as our freshman president his first year here. The gentleman from Rhode Island serves on the House Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Banking and Financial Services. He is a landscape architect by trade. That is why he has worked so hard as one of the cochairman of the Livable Communities Caucus that we have here in the House. He has brought to Congress a new way to look at our communities and our physical environment, and I have had the opportunity to work with him over and over again in the caucus where we look at the land use planning of many of our cities. Those who know Bob well know he is a man of honesty and integrity, and I am proud to call him my friend. These qualities are probably best exemplified in his role in uncovering an extensive corruption operation in the city of Pawtucket in 1991. You see Bob was a landscape architect, and he had won a contract for that city to redo a general open space, a park, if you will, and one of the things that happened is when he went in to see the mayor to work on this project, the mayor had a little scheme of how he might divide up the funds. Now, most of us having won a project like that might turn away and say to the mayor, thank you very much, I do not really need this after all, let me just forget I have ever met you, but not Bob. Bob actually picked up the phone that night and called the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Bob subsequently worked with them in conducting an elaborate undercover operation. Mr. Speaker, he wore a wire for many months putting his family, his wife, Fran, and their three children at great danger, but he felt it was important that he get the information. And because of what he did, putting away corrupt public officials in Rhode Island, Bob won the FBI's Award for Exceptional Public Service, the first time that that was awarded to a private citizen. It is a prestigious honor. He also was recognized with the Rhode Island Distinguished Service Star. I know that as he leaves the House to pursue the opportunity to represent all Rhode Islanders, that his friends and colleagues thank him for the work that he has done here and wish him well in the future. Mr. Speaker, Rhode Island will be very, very happy to have a great Senator when they elect Bob Weygand on November 7.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today, I congratulate Luis P. Villarreal, who received the 2000 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring for his work in developing science education and research programs to assist minority students at the high school and university level. Mr. Villarreal is a professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He was selected as one of ten individual recipients to receive this prestigious award. Mr. Villarreal began his academic career when he enrolled in a community college to become a medical technologist. Encouraged to continue his education, he went to complete a 4-year degree in chemistry and then entered graduate school. As a researcher in biology, Mr. Villarreal is currently doing research on the connection between cervical cancer and viruses. He also manages a million-dollar annual budget for the minority science program at UCI. His greatest reward is to help struggling students achieve success in college, and to encourage them to become scientists. One of his students remarked that he is relaxed, but brilliant and very funny. Through his mentoring program, Mr. Villarreal has guided many under- represented students into the sciences. These students participate in a rigorous academic and research training program that is mentored by faculty members. The program includes paid internships, tutoring, academic advising, faculty seminars and participation at national conferences. Colleagues, please join with me as we honor Mr. Luis P. Villarreal for his outstanding academic and educational achievements.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Ms. Speaker, today I have the opportunity to remember and pay tribute to a great man from my community. Joseph Samuel Boyd, the Santa Ana Police Department's Rangemaster, played an integral role in helping to make the streets of Santa Ana safer for all its citizens. Rangemaster Boyd was dedicated to a life of public service. After serving 24 years in the Marine Corps, including time in Vietnam, and rising in rank from boot recruit to the Officer rank of ``Major'', Rangemaster Boyd entered a life of law enforcement. After his retirement from the Marine Corps, Rangemaster Boyd became the firearms instructor for the Orange County Sheriff's Department until he was hired by the Santa Ana Police Department in 1993. During his tenure with the Santa Ana Police Department, Rangemaster Boyd developed a comprehensive training curriculum in firearm proficiency and safety for the Department's 400 officers. The system he developed, ``Advanced Firearms Simulator Training'' is a state-of-the- art system which simulates real life situations police officers encounter daily. It puts them in real-life situations and requires them to rapidly evaluate and assess a ``shoot/don't shoot'' scenario. This is now a widely-used training method at law enforcement agencies throughout the country. In 1995, Rangemaster Boyd played a pivotal role in obtaining a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant for the Santa Ana Police Department's Firearms Trafficking Program. This program allies the Department's Weapons Interdiction Team with the FBI and ATF in combating illegal firearms trafficking. The program proved to be an unqualified success and Rangemaster Boyd was an integral part of the team effectiveness, as he examined and tested firearms for ballistics evidence. It was, however, in this capacity that Rangemaster Boyd lost his life. On January 28, 1998, Officer Boyd was testing an outlawed, nine millimeter ``MAC 11'' machine pistol for ballistics evidence. During the testing, the gun jammed. In an attempt to un-jam the gun, it tragically misfired, killing Rangemaster Boyd. A devoted family man, Rangemaster Boyd is survived by his wife of 34 years, Marion, two adult children, and two grandchildren. The loss of Rangemaster Boyd left a void that still resonates today. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning of this tragic story. Since Rangemaster Boyd was not a ``sworn'' law enforcement officer, his family was not entitled to the Department of Justice's Public Safety Officers Benefits. Rangemaster Boyd was a ``civilian'' working in a law enforcement capacity. These Department of Justice's Public Safety Officers Benefits provide financial relief to family members of law enforcement officers who've lost their lives in the line of duty. Rangemaster Boyd gave his life in the line of duty, in a law enforcement capacity, and his family deserved these benefits. For the past three years, I have worked to correct this wrong. I introduced legislation, H.R. 513 in the House of Representatives which would have clarified that Rangemaster Boyd was a public safety officer who died as a direct result of an injury sustained in the line of duty. I worked with the Department of Justice to clarify this situation, and get Rangemaster Boyd's widow and family the benefits they deserved. I am pleased that on July 21, 2000 the work of myself, and so many others in the community, paid off when the Department of Justice decided to release the funding to Rangemaster Boyd's family. The benefit package is just a small expense to the Justice Department, only $100,000, but it has been a large relief to the Boyd family. I am glad the Federal Government looked beyond this ``technicality'' and realized what impact these benefits would make.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 540 on H.R. 4541 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 539 on H.J. Res. 114, I was unavoidably detained, Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I have the opportunity to voice my strong concern over the lack of legislation being passed to improve the deterioration of our nation's schools. During the 106th Congress, I authored H.R. 415 and I co-sponsored H.R. 1660, H.R. 1960, H.R. 3874, and H.R. 4094. Each of these bills, if the majority party permitted them to be considered, would have facilitated school construction--an issue that can no longer be overlooked by the federal government. H.R. 415, my Expand and Rebuild America's Schools Act, will encourage new school and classroom construction through the creation of a new class of tax-exempt bonds. These bonds are similar to the Qualified Zone Academy bonds created in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 for the purpose of school renovation. My bill focuses on using these new bonds specifically for the construction of new classrooms and schools, and to assist overcrowded, high growth rate schools that are struggling to adequately house their students. H.R. 415 will assist Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with limited financial resources to combat major overcrowding problems due to increasing enrollment. The program provides interest-free capital to LEAs by giving a tax credit to the financial institution in the amount equal to the interest that would otherwise be paid. The local school district is then required to repay only the principal amount borrowed. The Secretary of Education will be responsible for direct distribution of the bond program to the LEAs, avoiding any state bureaucracy in funding decisions or program administration. Let's examine the facts about the conditions of our schools. Between 2000 and 2010, the average national increase of public high school students is 10%, with an expected increase of 15% in my home state of California. This year, 53 million children will enter public and private elementary and secondary schools in the United States. By 2020, the Department of Education estimates that about 55 million children will be enrolled in our nation's schools, with this number increasing to 60 million by 2030. In California alone, the Department of Education projects that elementary and secondary school enrollment will increase by 4.6% over the next 10 years. This ranks 12th among states with the largest expected increases. On a more local level, Orange County has already experienced a 30.9% increase in the enrollment of elementary and secondary school students from 1990-1998. The bottom line here is that we have a growing population of students, and we do not have the infrastructure in place to properly accommodate all of them. These are frightening statistics for the future of our nation. It is our responsibility to our children to take action on this matter immediately. We wouldn't think of sending our men and women in the armed services into a battle without the best training they can be supplied. Why are we sending our children into this global economy and competitive world with less than the best preparation? This is indeed an issue of national security for the United States. Let's forget about the future for a moment and focus on where we are putting our children now. In a study issued by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) on the conditions of public schools, three- quarters of all schools reported the need to spend money on repairs, renovations, and modernization to bring their school buildings into good overall condition. Approximately one-fifth of schools indicated less than adequate conditions for life safety features, roofs, and electric power. They also reported that 43% of the schools reported that at least one of six environmental factors was in unsatisfactory condition. Moreover, about 36% of schools indicated that they used portable classrooms. But wait, it gets worse. NCES also reports that 78% of all schools in rural America need to be repaired and modernized. Nearly one-half (47%) of all schools in rural America have unsatisfactory environmental conditions. Over 30% report inadequate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. How do we expect our students to improve their performance if we are not meeting their basic needs? The National Education Association estimates that the total funding need for public school modernization is $321.9 billion. Of that total, $268.2 billion is needed for school infrastructures and $53.7 billion is needed for education technologies. We must take action now to enable us to provide the best education possible for our current and future students. We must pass legislation that will facilitate the construction and repair of our nations public schools. We must strongly consider passing legislation like H.R. 415. The majority party in the Congress should make this a priority--not put it on a back burner. We can't afford to waste any more time. While we fight about the cost and the most effective ways to improve our schools, there is a student in California who can't go out to play because her playground is now filled with portable classrooms. While we struggle to realize that this is an issue of the highest priority, a student in New York is walking around a trash can in the middle of the hall that is catching the rain water falling from a leaky roof. Let's not wait any longer. My fellow colleagues, let's pass legislation that will allow our students to learn and our teachers to teach in a safe, clean, uncrowded environment. I truly believe that the future economic health and security of our nation depends upon it.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to commend the House of Representatives for the successful passage of H.R. 4838, which waives the oath of allegiance requirement for people with disabilities that seek citizenship in our great nation. The need for such a bill is best exemplified in the case of Vijai Rajan of Anaheim, California. Twenty-five-year-old Vijai was born in India and has been residing in the U.S. since she was four months old. Ms. Rajan has several disabilities including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Crohn's disease which prevents her from raising her hand or memorizing and understanding the oath. Doctors say her comprehension is that of a baby or toddler. This piece of legislation is significant in expressing our nation's view of acceptance and welcoming of new citizens. These people can-not be denied citizenship when they have played by all the rules and have waited for so long. Her parents' four year battle with the INS is nearly over and Vijai as well as the other 1,100 disabilities waiver applicants are closer to becoming citizens of the United States. I am certain that these family members enjoy peace of mind and inner satisfaction knowing that their loved ones are part of America.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking member of the House Committee on Armed Services for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 631 in honor of the crew members killed and wounded on the U.S.S. Cole. As a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, I am continually impressed by the dedication to duty of those serving in the armed services. These young men and women volunteer. They volunteer, and they put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms that many of us take for granted. Last week, this Nation was reminded of their sacrifice. Seventeen people died, and 39 were injured serving aboard the U.S.S. Cole when a cowardly act of terrorism changed their lives forever and the lives of their families. This incident opens up old wounds such as the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon that killed 241 and the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers that killed 19. Our Nation is blessed with many virtues. Unfortunately, these incidents affirm that none are as precious as the men and women who risk their lives in the service of this country. It has been said ``For those who manned the battle line the bugle whispers low, and freedom has a taste and price the protected never know.'' Our hearts go out to the families of the brave men and women we honor today. They are now part of the soul of our great Nation.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker: Today, I rise to pay tribute to one of Orange County's outstanding community service groups, Working Wardrobes. Working Wardrobes is dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic violence achieve self-sufficiency in their lives. Working Wardrobes began in 1990 when six Orange County business women decided to initiative a program which would help victims of domestic violence regain their dignity, integrity and self-respect. Over 60,000 women in Orange County are severely beaten each year as a result of domestic violence. This cycle of domestic violence also affects children who are 1,000 times more likely to become abusers themselves. Through programs such as Career/Life Skills Workshops and Annual ``Days of Self-Esteem'', survivors are given the extra edge they need to be successful in their search for a career and the confidence needed to make changes in their lives. Colleagues, please join with me today in recognizing Working Wardrobes for excellence in providing victims of domestic violence with educational programs that have given them a new beginning in life.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I rise in strong support of the National Defense Authorization Conference Report H.R. 4205. I would like to thank Mr. Spence, Mr. Skelton, Subcommittee Chairs, Ranking Members, and of course Committee Staff for all the hard work that they put into reconciling the Defense Authorization Bill. This year's Authorization Bill makes great strides toward improving Modernization, Quality of Life, and Military Readiness. First, Military Health Care is getting on the right track, but we still have a lot of work to do to improve service to active duty and retired service members. Second, Recruiting and Retention are showing signs of improvement, but will be a constant challenge during strong economies and changing demographics. Although this committee has made significant improvements in quality of life benefits, I'm concerned that the junior ranks do not understand what these improvements mean to them. According to a DoD survey of service members, basic pay is the number one reason to stay or leave the military. But do they understand the value of their benefits, beyond take home pay, when they make their decision to leave? I have introduced legislation, H.R. 4388, which provides service members information on their benefits, to including VA benefits, the value of those benefits, and how their benefits compare to civilian counterparts. Given this information, I hope more may understand the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side and opt to make a career out of military service. I thank the Committee for acknowledging the merits of this legislation by including reporting language in this bill requiring the Department of Defense to report on what the Department is doing in educating service members on the value of their benefits. Third, I would like to commend the Committee on their work in improving R&D accounts, specifically Science and Technology. R&D is the future of this Nation's defense. We should not shortchange our future to fund present day shortfalls. R&D is critical in maintaining the technological edge to combat the growing and changing threats to our Nation's security. Finally, I would like to commend the Committee for incorporating H.R. 3396 in the Defense Authorization Bill and look at California as a potential production site for the Joint Strike Fighter. An independent study found that building the JSF at the Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California could save upwards of $2 billion over the life of the project. These savings are based on state and local economic incentives, such as tax credits, and inherent capabilities, such as the existing 1.2 million square foot B-2 production facility, highly trained aerospace work force, and close proximity to test facilities. If we are asking taxpayers to support the best manned, equipped, and trained fighting force in the world, we must ensure it's the most cost effective fighting force in the world. In closing, I commend all the Committee Chairs, Ranking Members and Staff for working with their Senate counterparts to produce a bipartisan bill that looks out for those who serve and preserve's our role as the World's premier fighting force. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Armed Services, I rise in strong support of the National Defense Authorization Conference Report, H.R. 4205. I would like to thank the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), subcommittee chairs, ranking members and all committee staff who have worked so hard to get this bill ready. This year's bill makes great strides towards improving modernization, quality of life and military readiness. First, military health care is getting on the right track, but there is still a lot we need to do. Second, recruiting and retention are showing signs of improvement, but it will be a constant challenge during strong economies and changing demographics. One area that I have been working on is to better inform our service members about the true value of the total compensation that they get in the military. If younger service members fully understand the value of all their benefits, then they may opt to stay in military service more often. Third, I would like to commend the committee on their work in improving the research and development accounts, specifically science and technology. R&D is the future of this Nation's defense. We should not shortchange our future to fund today. Research and development is critical because it maintains our technological edge and helps our service people with the growing and changing needs of our national security. Finally, I would like to commend the committee for looking at California as a potential production site for the Joint Strike Fighter. Building the Joint Strike Fighter in California would save taxpayers billions of dollars through State-sponsored economic incentives and by using existing production facilities. If we are asking taxpayers to support the best manned, equipped, and trained fighting force in the world, actually in the history of the world, then we must ensure that it is as cost effective as possible for taxpayers.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), who truly heads the livable communities task force here in the Congress, a bipartisan measure to really try to do something about planning. In the area that I represent, we have a lot of natural beauty. We have the coastline of California. And one of the things that really concerned me last night that Governor Bush said was this whole thing about drilling in the Arctic natural wildlife refuge. Why? Because I have seen so many attacks by the Republicans here to try to drill off the shore of California, something that we as Californians really do not want. We really want to make sure that we are not going to our natural preserves to go after oil in that manner. Mr. Speaker, getting back to this whole issue of livable communities. The communities that I represent are pretty built out, and it really is this point about planning, planning how we do transportation, planning how we do affordable housing, how we do the housing and job mix there, how we have urban parks, where our children go and play. The most striking thing about Governor Bush's record in Texas, 6 years of being a governor there, and he has, the last time I checked, never visited an area along the southern border to Mexico that is called Los Colinas. This area in Texas has no planning. These are lots that are sold to individuals where there is no infrastructure. There is no sanitation. There is no water line. Nothing. No highways, no arterial highways, no local roads. Nothing. And what you get is really a shanty, not even a shanty town, but one shanty home after the other, where raw sewage is being spilled out there, where water needs to be trucked in, where people are very, very poor. There are probably about 300,000 people living in Los Colinas, this area along the border. Mr. Speaker, a medium income of a family in a household, if you can call their house a house, is less than $8,000 a year. This guy has been Governor of Texas for 6 years and he has not ever bothered to even go down and see what is in his own backyard? I have been to Las Colonias more often than Governor Bush has. If this is the Governor's idea of livable communities, his idea of planning, his idea of how we pay for infrastructure, of how we place urban parks, there are no urban parks in Las Colonias, there is nothing. It is destitute. It is a lot. There are not even roads decent enough to make sure that children who live in a shanty in Las Colonias can get to the schools, which are probably miles away from where the children are living. This is the record? This is what he has to go on? This is what people have to understand. America should really understand what kind of a Governor this is, someone who really does not understand about planning, about quality of life, about looking at how we raise our children, and that environment is just not how pristine something is or how we put a monument someplace, but more importantly, it is about our lives, and it is about our children's future. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Oregon, for giving me some time to talk about Las Colonias.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell my colleagues how many times I have received a phone call to my office from somebody whose father or brother or sister are now deceased, who have been a veteran, and the phone call has usually been about trying to get an honor guard to the funeral. Usually they are distraught because, of course, when we go through something like that, especially for someone who has served with honor in the military, and not to be able to have an honor guard at their funeral seems unjust. And, in fact, it is. In the year 2000 Defense authorization bill, we actually wrote legislation, we wrote some words that talked about each and every veteran having an honor guard at their funeral. Well, that is because it is a promise that we made. It is something for our country to uphold. But due to the large and aging population of World War II and Korean veterans, we anticipate about 600,000 funerals this year. What that means is, as we have cut back on our current service personnel, and as we send them around the world, we have fewer and fewer of them around to help with that duty at funerals. So we have begun to rely on our reservists to help with this. The more the reservists go out to conduct that, the more time actually they have to spend away from their employment. So this is really a resolution to let employers know how important it is for our reservists to take the time to go and honor the commitment that this Nation has made. It is important for us to explain to employers. It is important for Americans to understand that we are trying to hold to that commitment. It is important that, when duty calls, reservists do not jeopardize their jobs. This Nation and this Congress must stand behind our reservists. That is why I would ask my fellow colleagues to approve House Resolution 284, because it is a reaffirmation of great honor to those who have served with honor to our country. Congress reaffirms that; and when we do that, America reaffirms the work that these veterans have done. I support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill also.