Loretta Sanchez

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, May is Older Americans Month, which gives us the special opportunity to honor our Nation's seniors. The theme of this month is living longer and growing stronger in America; and we are saluting the growing numbers of Americans who enjoy increased longevity and continue to contribute to their families, their communities and to this country. However, we cannot adequately honor them unless we have first ensured them a safe and a healthy life-style. Americans age 65 and older are the fastest-growing segment of our population. In just 2 years, there will be over 35 million of them in this country. Unfortunately, some of the most critical programs that provide seniors with food, health care, and living assistance are now being threatened. The Older Americans Act has not been reauthorized since 1995. The programs are running out of funding. As a result, seniors throughout this country are suffering. I have heard from many back home about how these cuts are affecting their lives. I have received many letters from seniors telling me their stories of having to be on a waiting list for 3 years just to get something like Meals on Wheels. The majority party in this House must promise, and there is no better time than this month of May to get working on the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. We must complete this work before the 105th Congress adjourns. If not, then essential programs like Meals on Wheels, nutritional services, and elder abuse prevention programs are not going to reach some of our neediest seniors. Throughout the decades of its existence, the Older Americans Act has served our Nation's aging population well. These programs are important not only because they help seniors maintain a healthy life-style, but they also bolster seniors' independence and their sense of dignity. If we are to truly honor our Nation's seniors this month, then we must reauthorize the Older Americans Act.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, this weekend I joined the veterans in my community to recognize the first day the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Flag was flown Nationally on Armed Forces' Day. During the day, I had the opportunity to hear the stories of America's POWs and MIAs. Their stories weighed on my heart and angered my senses. These men deserve from the United States as much, if not more, than they have given to us. For these reasons, I cosponsored Public Law 105-85, legislation that requires the flying of the POW/MIA flag at Federal facilities, including U.S. Post Offices. Having the flag flown at Federal offices and facilities will help us remember the work that remains to honor these courageous individuals and their families. The POW/MIA flag offers us an opportunity not only to remember and recognize those we have lost, but also to rededicate ourselves to the cause of finding these men or their remains and bringing them home to their families and their grateful Nation. We need to secure a full accounting of the men and women who fought for our Nation's flag and who were captured by the enemy or listed as missing. We must work together to ensure the fullest possible accounting of these men for their family and all Americans who have benefited from their fight for freedom and liberty. Although this is a good first step to recognizing and remembering those missing soldiers, I believe we must do more. Recently, I joined several of my colleagues in contacting the State Department expressing our concern about the POW/MIA who are still unaccounted for from the Korean War. We felt that the POW/MIA subject should have been a priority subject during the negotiations in Geneva this past December. I strongly believe that any agreement for peace must include a serious commitment on the part of the government of North Korea to locate missing soldiers of the thousands of Korean Veterans I represent. As you know, a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, underscored by a unified democratic government is a goal for which our Veterans fought bravely during the conflict of 1950-1953. Under adverse conditions, and sometimes against a numerically superior enemy, U.S. troops battled to preserve a non-communist enclave on the Asian continent. At a time during the cold war when the forces of communism seemed on the rise across the world, the performance of our valiant soldiers, sailors and airmen affirmed the resolve of democracy. Now that the first steps to achieving peace in Korea are being taken, it is paramount that the US negotiators insist on POW/MIA closure are subject to any formal accord. By doing so, we honor the troops who put forth the ultimate sacrifice; We honor their families, who have lived with uncertainty about their loved ones for over 40 years; most importantly; We honor those veterans of the Korean War still living, who will never forget their colleagues lost on the nameless hills, ridges and valleys during those 3 long years. I will continue to urge the State Department to work with the Pentagon in articulating a clear and resolute position for the United States on unresolved POW/MIA personnel cases as the talks continue. A lasting peace cannot be fully achieved unless those who fought for it are accounted for by a grateful nation. And I will continue to express my concern to the federal government. It has been over 20 years since the war in Vietnam ended, yet our Government has still not accounted for so many of those men who went to a far away nation to defend an unknown people against an unseen enemy. We have almost erased the scourge of Communism from the face of the earth, yet we have not yet fully recognized all of the men who made this victory of democracy possible. Until we bring home these men, the war is not over. We must continue to fight and remember those we have lost in our battle for freedom. Until all of the men, from throughout this country, have been accounted for, we must not rest in our efforts. As a member of the National Security Committee, I commit myself to America's veterans. I commit myself to working in the memory of the thousands of Americans who served in America's wars and were captured by the enemy or listed as missing in action. I commit myself to the families of those whose fate has been unknown and who have had to suffer tragic and continuing hardships. In Washington, engraved at the Veterans's Administration Building, is a quote from Abraham Lincoln, ``To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his orphan.'' I do not believe that America has sufficiently cared for all of those men who have been declared missing or captured. Until we have a full accounting, we cannot fulfill this promise to America's veterans and families.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the Fourth Anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day. I would also like to congratulate the International Committee for Freedom for organizing this important event and I commend the participants who have come together to promote human rights for Vietnam. I would like to take this opportunity to call on the Government of Vietnam to respect fundamental human rights and release their religious and political prisoners. The people of Vietnam have waited too long for these basic changes to take place. By commemorating Vietnam Human Rights Day, we confirm the necessity of placing human rights at the center of United States policy toward Vietnam. We, as a nation, and as a people, need to be steadfastly committed to human rights, democracy, economic liberty and religious freedom for all the people of Vietnam. I strongly agree that democracy would not only contribute to regional stability and increased economic development of Vietnam, but also grant sorely-lacking civil liberties and basic freedoms to Vietnamese citizens. I have the privilege of representing Central Orange County, home to the largest Vietnamese-American population in the United States. Last year, I joined over 2,000 of my constituents to rally in support of human rights and democracy in Vietnam. We marched in protest of the human rights abuses and religious oppression by the current government in Thai Binh and Xuan Loc. I joined my constituents in sending a strong message to Hanoi--a message that these injustices will not be tolerated--a message that the Vietnamese Government must obey, respect and honor human and religious rights in Vietnam. We must remain strong, vocal, and active on our efforts to bring these human rights abuses to the attention of the international community. I applaud the efforts of the International Committee for Freedom, and members of the international community, who have come together today to commemorate this important day.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today it seems fitting that with the 23rd anniversary of the fall of Saigon to Communism, special recognition of the memories, feelings, and introspections regarding April 30, 1975, are in order. We must pay special tribute and remember the sacrifices of our soldiers and our Vietnam Veterans who fought and died in the name of freedom and democracy. Many Vietnamese experienced first hand the deprivation, humiliation, and fear associated with losing their country, their way of life, and their freedom. But all who left their Vietnamese homeland to come to the United States chose a life filled with uncertainty, change, and struggle over a life in their homeland under a Communist thumb. While I am at home visiting with my constituents, I am disheartened by the stories of their experiences during that conflict. It is often difficult to fully appreciate the extent to which these diligent people have survived all manner of disasters and trauma and have gone on to lead civil and productive lives. Mr. Speaker, we must continue to be vigilant to keep this memory alive in our hearts. We must tell the story of their brave sacrifices to our children and our children's children. We must ensure that the important cause that we fought for is not forgotten by future generations.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I join my colleagues today in supporting H.R. 6. I would first like to commend my committee colleagues for arriving at a bipartisan piece of legislation that we can stand behind and of which we can be proud. This is one of the most important bills that Congress will vote on for students and for families. It will enable every American who would like to do so to attend higher education. As America moves into a knowledge-intensive world of the future, the focus is turning to higher education. It used to be that a high school education was important, but today one really needs a college education. When I was in school, we could get away with typing skills, but future students will have to be prepared to access computers and be able to navigate the information highway. I believe that that bill accomplishes the goal of expanding educational opportunity, particularly for low-income individuals, and it increases the affordability of colleges for many families. It offers a better future for approximately 1 million students who attend Hispanic-serving institutions and tribally-controlled colleges in approximately 200 institutions across the Nation. I have an SAI in my Congressional district, Santa Ana College, which serves 3,000 students, and this bill will give Santa Ana College, other institutions around the country, increased funding, support, and recognition that they need to serve all of their students. We also included funding to expand and modernize active school programs, such as TRIO, but we did not stop at that. We also created the High Hopes program which will do early intervention in middle schools across the country. I came to Congress to make sure that every child in my district had the same opportunities for education that I had. Passing this legislation will ensure that I will carry out that mission. H.R. 6 gives struggling students the opportunity to excel and to take full advantage of their education. A ``yes'' vote on this bill is a vote for students and families and the future.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, for the past year, I have been working to ensure that the United States Government honor a 30-year-old debt to former South Vietnamese Army commandos, who worked for the U.S. Government during the Vietnam War. And these individuals were recruited by the United States to cross enemy lines and fight the Communists on behalf of the Americans. Last year, Congress unanimously approved legislation to finally pay the 30-year-old debt, and I am very happy to announce that the long wait for recognition and compensation may be finally over for the commandos. To date, the Commando Compensation Board has processed 266 claims. One hundred forty-two commando cases have been approved, and these individuals are finally receiving their compensation. I am pleased that the U.S. Government is finally honoring their contracts for their years of service and for their bravery in service to the United States. The least we must do is keep our word. I look forward to the day that all of these cases are closed and every single commando receives his justice.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman and ranking member. I rise today in support of H.R. 2400. Think about this. In the next 5 years in central Orange County, that is Anaheim, Gardon Grove and Santa Ana, we will be spending over $5 billion in new construction and modernization. That is the private sector and that is the public sector; the public sector in our infrastructure needs for all of this new construction and modernization going on. It is the rising economy of Orange County. It requires local dollars, State dollars and, yes, the dollars that we from Orange County send here to be returned back to help our crumbling infrastructure. That is why I am proud to say that I am part of this responsible bipartisan initiative that was written with the support of diverse transportation communities from business to labor, contractors to environmentalists, from engineers to safety advocates and to cyclists. These groups see that America is growing and prospering, but our transportation infrastructure is lagging behind. And this bill picks up the pace and our highways. I believe that this bill will improve America, will improve our futures. The projects included are important and very cost-effective, in particular in Orange County. Our Nation's networks of road and transit systems are the arteries that keep the economic heart of our country beating. Without this blood supply, our country's economic body would suffer an irreversible financial heart attack. Please join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, tonight, I would like to join you in celebrating the opening of Edison International Field of Anaheim and the opening day of the Anaheim Angels baseball season. When the first ball is thrown out on the field tonight, we will be part of the history of this great American sport--baseball. Baseball has been a part of our American history from the 19th century. From its earliest beginning, baseball has captivated the American audience in a most remarkable way. Baseball is synonymous with America. It is as American as the Fourth of July, apple pie, and the Star Spangled Banner. Nothing has captured the imagination of America's young and old, as baseball. How many little leaguers dream of playing one day in the major leagues, the bright lights shining down on the field, the crowds cheering as a home run slides into home base. Baseball is our national pasttime. We, as Americans, are proud of this sport. And, some of our greatest American heroes, have been baseball players--Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson. Tonight, we again celebrate this most American of traditions. The new Edison Field has brought state of the art facilities to Orange County. With the new additions of seating for over 45,050 fans, a total of 108 executive style boxes and new dining facilities, the Edison Field stadium will continue to draw record crowds to see their favorite team, the Anaheim Angels play. It is so exciting to have this excellent team of baseball players representing Anaheim. We are so fortunate to have such a talented baseball team right here in Orange County. Best wishes for a winning season!

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, due to an event in my district, I unavoidably missed roll call votes #79 and #80 on the afternoon of March 27, 1998. Had I been present I would have voted ``yes'' on Roll Call vote #79 and ``No'' on Roll Call vote #80.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to reject H.R. 3246. It should be titled the ``Silence Working Families Act.'' It is a shame that the House is jeopardizing the living standards of working families. As a result of the National Labor Relations Act and other Federal laws, working families have livable wages and job protections. And now the House is attempting to roll back the clock on American labor law. Mr. Chairman, because workers can organize to represent themselves, workers are able to raise their families and to make this country strong. If workers have a pension, they can thank organized workers. Thank them again for the minimum wage. Thank them for the 8-hour day, for the 40-hour work week, for overtime pay and for compensatory time off. They can thank organized workers for workplace safety, for grievance procedures, and perhaps, most importantly, for health benefits. Before workers could organize and represent themselves, we did not have maternity leave, let alone paid leave. These are just some of the improvements that all working families in the United States enjoy because of the struggles of organized labor. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to reject H.R. 3246.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an advocate of the Indo-American community, Mr. Sunil Aghi. Mr. Aghi is founder and President of the Indo-American Political Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing Indo-Americans into the mainstream political process. Through this Foundation, Mr. Aghi hopes to bring full equality and participation of minorities and other ethnic groups into the political process. Mr. Aghi has also worked hard to ensure that Indo- Americans are fully represented in political and elected offices. He understands that Indo-Americans should have their own voices in all levels of government to ensure that the needs of the Indo-American community are met by our elected officials. Mr. Aghi looks forward to joining forces with other organizations which represent diverse ethnic groups to form coalitions that will give an even stronger voice to new citizens who are eager to learn more and become involved in American politics. But the most important work that Mr. Aghi does, in his work as founder of Thank You America. Thank You America is an organization dedicated to providing food and clothing to the homeless of Orange County on Thanksgiving Day. Each year this group assists over 500 homeless individuals and families with warm meals and clothing during the holidays. Mr. Aghi is planning to expand Thank You America's services to help needy families year round. Mr. Aghi truly understands the meaning of thanks. His tireless efforts are a model for all to follow. Mr. Aghi gives thanks everyday to America through his unselfish work, and I thank Mr. Aghi for his vital role in our communities.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following testimony for today's Congressional Record. Statement of Carmen Cruz, 6th Grader, Loara Elementary School, Anaheim City School District Hello, my name is Carmen Cruz and school overcrowding is a problem at Loara School. That's why we have year-round school here. In my class, we move, which means we move around from room to room each month. Roving is no fun, yet it is useful because it fits in more kids at school. Some of my friends in my room went to different schools last year but because their schools were crowded they had to come to Loara. They used to walk to their school but now they have to ride a bus to Loara. I would be really sad if I had to change schools because I would miss my friends. Before we had portables we had a bigger upper grade playground. That's one of the reasons why I don't like school overcrowding. Two other reasons are that the portables are small and there is no water inside. At Loara there were too many students so we hired more teachers. We also had to let cars drive on the playground because there was no room for all the cars that brought kids to school. Now they're making a bigger parking lot and that means a smaller playground. It's good for the teachers and parents but not for the kids. We need funds to build more schools and they have to be close to where the kids live. One issue they're talking about in Anaheim is double sessions but that doesn't help my learning and other children's learning. My Motto about overcrowding is ``More Schools Means More Space.''

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to thank our new colleague, and also say, considering that she is from California, that these initiatives are so important for our State in particular. For example, the proposal that the President and Vice President Gore have with respect to interest credits is so important, when we take a look at the fact that when we pass a local bond issue to build new schools, in California we need two-thirds of the vote affirmative in order to pass that. By saying that the Federal Government will give tax credits to pay the interest cost, what we are actually doing is giving an incentive to those on a local basis to take the responsibility on of building schools in their communities, and saying, we are going to help you hand-in-hand to ensure that the students of the gentlewoman's area, who are the students of America, are going to succeed in the future.

Ms. SANCHEZ. I thank the gentlewoman. Now I yield to our good colleague, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Tom Allen), from the other coast of the United States.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of this special order.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to talk about the particular bill that I have introduced into the floor here. I have here a chart that I want to go over so that I can somewhat explain some of the situation that is going on. Mr. Speaker, tonight we have many of our colleagues here from across the Nation. This is not just a California problem. It is not just an Anaheim problem or a Santa Ana problem. It is really an opportunity for us to make the room to educate our children. Remember that the schoolhouse is not only the room in which we educate our children of the Nation, but we also use our school buildings for other reasons. Boy Scout and Girl Scout meetings, special meetings of the community, and we do ESL classes at night for new immigrants who want to learn English. So the schoolrooms are actually used more often than just the 5 or 6 hours during the school day. On this chart, this is the projected increase of children in the next 10 years across the United States. And we see here we have the five fastest growing as far as projection of schoolchildren, the five fastest growing States: California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho at about 16 percent to 11 percent, growing in the next 10 years. Now here is the interesting point. Here is the Anaheim Elementary School District, the elementary schools of my hometown, and we are growing at a 25 percent rate. Let me tell my colleagues, Anaheim is a major city. It is the home of Disneyland. But I have a city right next to it, Santa Ana, and Santa Ana is also a major city and it has the youngest population of a major city across the United States. What does that tell us? We are full of youngsters in these towns. And we are growing at a 25 percent rate and yet, for example, in Santa Ana, we have 600 portable classrooms. Now, if we do the math, 600 portable classrooms is the equivalent of 27 elementary schools. New elementary schools. Where have we put these portable classrooms? We have put them on blacktop, on the places where our children used to play basketball and dodgeball, and where they used to play soccer on the green fields, on the staff parking lots. We are actually using more and more of the playground and the other amenities that we need. Mr. Speaker, I have gone to schools. One of the things about growing up in the same area that I represent is that I have gone to the same schools that I went to. We used to have, a ``breezeway'' we used to call it, a separate hall. It is a tunnel between classrooms where you have a large amount of classrooms so that the teacher would not have to take the children all the way around all the building, of all the classrooms, you had to wait to cut in between. And that separate hall now has doors up on it and it has become a classroom. The broom closet of the janitor, the place where he used to store his round barrel with all the push brooms and everything, has now become an office of a therapist who now deals with 6 special ed children. These are the classrooms of today. And I have classrooms in my district that actually do not have a classroom assigned to them, classes that, thank God, we are in Southern California, they teach outside; and on a rainy day, like when we have El Nino, we put them in a classroom where there is already a class going on, and it makes it very difficult to learn in those situations. So not only are we bulging at the seams already, not only have we used up our space and now to the equivalent of 27 elementary schools, for example, but on top of that we have this almost double-growing happening in our area. And that is why I say it is a local concern, it is the responsibility of people in local communities to stand up and say we need to do something about it and we want to do something about it. But it is also important for us to help at the Federal level, especially when we cannot build a school fast enough to house the growth that is going on. That is why these tax incentives are important. That is why we need to get involved. Now let me tell my colleagues, it is not just willy-nilly; we are not just saying, oh, here, let us give away tax dollars up here. First of all, the restrictions on these are, for example, you must have already as a school district done something to help alleviate this problem. Let me tell my colleagues what they have done at home. We have gone to year-round school. We do not go traditionally September through June any longer, and take the 3 months off of vacation time in the summer. And that is tough. Think about the fact that Southern California is a desert, so during the summer it is very warm in the classrooms, and those classrooms were not built with air conditioners. So in those classrooms where we might have had the funds to put an air conditioner in, usually the air conditioner is louder than the teacher in the classroom. So it makes it very difficult to learn even if we have air conditioning in the classroom. So we have done things. We have gone to year-round school. In fact, in Anaheim, if our bond issue does not pass on April 14, what will happen is we will go to double sessions, little kids going early in the morning to school and others coming home late at night after 5:00 p.m., when it is already dark at times during the year walking home or coming home. It is a very dangerous situation to be in. Or what happens if you are a mother with 2 or 3 children, some going to the a.m. schedule, some going to the p.m. schedule, 1 of them going to a junior high that is on the traditional 9-month schedule, your other 2 children in the elementary school district going on the year- round schedule? How are you supposed to get your children there, take vacation, plan for the family? Think about that. Or think about the fact that now we are having double or triple sessions of our children when they go to lunch and when our children stand 15 minutes in line to get their lunch. They sit down and have got 3 minutes to eat it because they have got to clear the picnic table for the next set of children to come on in. They have tried to solve their problems effectively, but it is still not enough. Here is another problem that occurs for example: If you are using the school all the time, when do you do the normal wear-and-tear maintenance? How do you paint the graffiti out when the kids are there all the time? It becomes very difficult. Do you pay the custodian more to come in on Saturdays and Sundays? Because that is overtime; that is extra time. How do you make sure the kids' fingerprints do not show up on the wet paint because you cannot get it dry overnight? These are the difficulties that we are fighting, just very practical difficulties. Secondly, what other incentive, what other restriction do we have? The business community must be involved in the school district. And we have very many partnership companies that have adopted schools that are helping with the technology aspect of schools. This is another thing that we put in. Third, another way to qualify, another qualification that you need for this bill that we have got. They must have some children, at least 35 percent, who are on the school lunch program, i.e., it is a lower income area, someone who really needs the help. Because we were talking about property taxes earlier and there are really some school districts in dire straits. Now, the issues for renovation that we already passed in the Tax Relief Act this past August targets the 100 most poverty-stricken school districts across the Nation. But there are even more who need help. I have to tell my colleagues, I know just how much we need help because, it is a shame to say, but one of my school districts qualifies in that top 100 poverty-stricken school districts across the Nation. But my bill would require that they meet some basic provisions; that we have a low income level; secondly, that the business community is working with them; and third, that they try to do something to help with the situation that they have before they would qualify to have the opportunity to try to pass a bond issue again, remembering in California this is a two-thirds vote, 66.7 percent of the people who come to vote must say yes, and then they would get a tax incentive provision to those investors in the bonds that would allow the interest cost to be picked up basically by the Federal Government. So it is not just willy-nilly, it is really for those school districts like Anaheim Elementary School that have come forward and said, we need to do something, let us work very hard to get this bond issue passed; and it is a way for the Federal Government to say, we understand the need that you have there, we believe that ``the fourth R'' is important, and we are going to help you with that.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, one of the other things that is happening is that we are realizing as a nation that the smaller amount of kids we have in the classroom with the teacher the more they learn. We have tried in California for the past 18 months the 20-to-1 ratio. Our kids, we used to have 28, 32, 40 kids sometimes to every teacher in the classroom. So we tried in the beginning classes, first grade, second grade, third grade, to try to accommodate and go to 20-to-1 ratio. We put the money forward to do that, and we have brought on new teachers. There is also a teacher problem; but we brought on new teachers, we cut it down to 20-to-1. And where we have done that up and down the State of California, we have seen an improvement in test scores. Teachers that work with the children in the classrooms say this is the best thing they have ever seen, our children are learning. And guess what? No classrooms. Here is another problem. We know what works: more outreach, more time with each child. It requires more rooms in which to teach. I noticed that the President's initiative, as it came forward in the budget, had an 18-to-1 ratio that he wants to try to implement across the United States. Why? Because it works. We know it works. We have tested it in California. We are there. The problem is ``the fourth R,'' where do we find the room for this to happen?

Ms. SANCHEZ. I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas.

Ms. SANCHEZ. I want to add something to that. My colleague talked about how we want our children to compete and be the best in the world. And we know that we are in an information age now, we are in the 21st century. I just had the Vice President out and he is a big pusher of technology in the classroom, and I was trying to tell him that in Anaheim Elementary, here is another reason why we need that bond issue passed on April 14. We have 3, count them, 3 phone lines into each of our elementary schools. That means when people call, to call in their kids being sick that morning, there are only 3 phone lines they can call in. If someone needs to fax something, they are going to be using one of those phone lines. If the principal needs to be talking to somebody or making a phone call out, he or she is going to be using one of those phone lines. There are only 3 phone lines into that entire school. If the teacher is in a classroom and an emergency is going on, there is no phone line into her classroom. Somebody has to get through the phone line at the front office and then somebody has to run down to that teacher's classroom and tell her something is going on and get the problem solved. Only 3 phone lines at a time. Think about it, in our own businesses, imagine if in our businesses we had 60 managers and we had all these clients coming in and we had only 3 lines coming into our office, 3 lines in which to fax, et cetera, and call and take calls outside and bring calls in. How much work would we really get done? And then add this to it. If we wanted to be on the Internet on your computers, if we wanted to be connected to the rest of the world the way all of us are now connected, we cannot do it on 3 phone lines alone. And that is why we need to put money not just to buy them computers or bring them computers or to get them connected, but to redo the infrastructure that our children use.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to end by thanking all my colleagues for spending their time tonight to highlight the situation, to bring forth their ideas and in response, yes, it is great to be a Democrat and to bring forward these initiatives. I hope that we actually get them on during the legislative day and get to vote on some of these proposals.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am here today with my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Christian- Green) to host this special order on one of the most important needs of children today, and that is the need that I call ``the fourth R,'' the need for room. There has been much talk about school construction needs. That is because schools across America have reached their breaking point. I know this is true because I have visited over 70 schools this past year alone in my district, and I have witnessed firsthand how schools are trying to house double the numbers of students they were originally meant to accommodate. I have seen auditoriums and closets converted into classrooms; and I have seen more than enough portables take over the school grounds. To highlight the need for legislation addressing school overcrowding, I invited Vice President Al Gore to my district last week for a town hall meeting on education, and during this town hall meeting the Vice President spoke with students and parents and administrators about the daily challenges they face due to crowded schools and classrooms. The stories we heard were heartbreaking. Elementary and junior high school students talked about no longer having playgrounds because 19 portables took up the blacktop at their junior high school. Parents discussed the difficulties over constant scheduling changes due to double sessions and year-round schooling. It is disappointing to see the public school that I went to as a child in such bad condition. Remember, I represent my own hometown. But I know that the Federal Government can assist our schools with the infrastructure needs. The Federal Government can help local schools without threatening local control. We can help schools save money in interest costs and give local investors a Federal tax break. My colleagues might ask, how can we do this? Through the legislation offered by myself and the President that will create new bond programs designed to give our schools the helping hand they need. It is a partnership between national government and local school districts and, really, the business community. These bond programs would offer interest-free bonds to schools seeking to finance new school construction or renovate aging schools. The Federal Government would provide a tax credit to investors in the amount of the interest that would otherwise be paid by the school. One of my local school districts, for example, Anaheim City school district, with elementary schools has a bond initiative on April 14. It is going to be on the ballot, and it is to pass to raise monies for a new elementary school. If local voters approve this bond initiative, it would raise almost $48 million to rehabilitate schools and to build new classrooms for children. My bill, the Expand and Rebuild America's Schools Act, could save Orange County taxpayers millions of dollars in interest costs and keep more taxpayer dollars at home at the local level. Let us give our schools a fair shake. Let us give them a chance to help themselves. This Federal tax break will lighten the load on local taxpayers. As an investment banker, I know this program can work. It will provide stimulus for local schools to pass bond initiatives and encourage private investment at the same time. Congress must pass meaningful legislation this year for school construction. We can help our schools through tax incentives and through Federal bond programs. I am looking forward to hearing from my colleagues about their efforts to address school construction needs and how their schools can benefit from Federal legislation. I would like to thank all of my colleagues for joining me this evening. At this time I yield to my colleague, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Christian-Green).

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues the success of a forum that I hosted in my district on the future of Social Security. Social Security is a focus of intense public interest; and there is talk about long-range funding problems, means testing, and privatization. The public is skeptical about the future of Social Security. Opinion poll after opinion poll shows that fewer than 50 percent of Americans feel confident that Social Security will be able to meet its long-range commitments. We need to assure America's seniors and future generations of Americans that the retirement benefits they are entitled to will be there when they need them. Let us restore public faith in Social Security. Through listening to our constituents, we can learn what kind of changes are best to preserve Social Security and its worth for years to come. The President has pledged to hold public forums across the Nation on Social Security reform throughout this year. I encourage my colleagues to host similar forums in their districts. The time has come to give our constituents the information they need to make informed decisions about Social Security reform.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Ms. Speaker, today I rise to honor the late Dr. Hector Garcia. It was on this day, March 26th, that Dr. Garcia was born. It is fitting that we should pay tribute to him on this special day of remembrance. Born in Mexico, his family fled the country when he was only four years old. This was during the Mexican Revolution when so many sought refuge in the United States. The Garcia family settled in Texas where young Hector Garcia's life began its course. After his graduation from the University of Texas Medical School, Garcia joined the Army. He served his country overseas, in World War II, as an infantryman, combat engineer and medical corps officer. His distinguished service earned him the Bronze Star with six Battle Stars. After the war, he began a medical practice in Corpus Christi, Texas. As a medical doctor for the Veterans Administration, he saw the need to assist the Latino veterans in their fight for benefits. There was a great deal of prejudice toward the Latinos who had fought for their country, yet were not afforded the same rights and privileges given to others. At this moment in history an occurrence took place that would forever changed Dr. Garcia's life and thrust him into the national spotlight. When a funeral home in Three Rivers, Texas, refused burial services for a Mexican-American Army Private Felix Longoria, who had died fighting for his country in the Philippines, Dr. Garcia organized the outraged Latino community in protest against this treatment of a fellow American and soldier. The protests were noticed by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. The Senator's intervention brought an end to the travesty and the Army private was buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery. The incident preceded the founding of the American GI Forum of the United States by Dr. Garcia. Created to assist individuals with their VA benefits, the organization soon took on a deeper meaning and a more vital cause. The American GI Forum became the rallying organization for equal rights in housing, jobs, education, and voting. It also sought to eradicate discrimination and to desegregate the schools, the churches, the theaters, and restaurants--any place that a human being should be allowed the dignity and freedom that he deserved. Dr. Garcia's life was filled with so many noteworthy and honorable distinctions. In 1968, President Johnson made him the first Mexican American to serve on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. And, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan conferred upon him one of our country's highest and most prestigious honors--the Medal of Freedom. The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award given to those who have made humanitarian contributions to their fellow man and who have a deep belief in the traditional American ideals. Today, Dr. Hector Garcia's vision lives on. The American GI Forum now has the veterans of the Vietnam War and the Gulf War carrying on the fight for human dignity. The traditions and the message that Garcia believed in are perhaps expressed best in the ``Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi,'' the official prayer of the American GI Forum: ``Lord, Make me an instrument of Thy Peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love . . .'' Dr. Garcia lived this prayer. Please join me today in paying tribute to this great humanitarian.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Clarence Iwao Nishizu for his dedicated service to the Japanese American community and Orange County. Clarence grew up in Orange County where his family owned a farm and he is a graduate of Anaheim High School and Fullerton Jr. College. During World War II, all Americans of Japanese ancestry were interned as a result of Executive Order 9066. Clarence and his family were uprooted and interned at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. After the war, he and his family returned to Orange County and continued to farm with his two brothers. Due to his experience in the internment camps, Clarence continued to be an active citizen in Orange County, particularly within the Japanese American community in the areas of civil and human rights. Clarence Nishizu was Co-founder of the Orange County Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens' League (JACL), the oldest Asian American civil rights organization. He later founded four other chapters of JACL throughout Southern California, including the SELANOCO chapter where he was past president. In 1966, Clarence was the first Japanese American selected as the Foreman of the Orange County Grand Jury. In 1975, he received a special ``Resolution of Appreciation Award'' for his meritorious service from the Orange County Criminal Justice Council. Clarence was also active in the Redress campaign by testifying before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. His efforts, along with many other Japanese Americans eventually led to the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 in Congress. In 1991, the major highlights of his life were published in the Honorable Stephen K. Tamura Orange County Japanese American Oral History Project, a publication that chronicles the history of Japanese Americans in Orange County. Now, at the age of 86, Clarence Nishizu continues to actively participate on the board of the SELANOCO Chapter of JACL. He actively fundraises to promote SELANOCO's civic responsibility program, the Presidential Classroom scholarships, which provide opportunities for high school students to go to Washington, D.C. for leadership training.