Loretta Sanchez

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor Larry J. Holms, Director of Fire Services for the Orange County Fire Authority. Chief Holms is retiring after 35 years of exemplary service to the citizens of Orange County and the State of California. Chief Holms served as the Director of Fire Services since the inception of the Orange County Fire Department in 1980. He is retiring as the director of the Orange County Fire Authority. He has been responsible for the largest regional firefighting department in California, staffed by over 935 volunteers and 750 paid-call firefighters. After the devastating 1993 Laguna Beach fires, Chief Holms was instrumental in establishing a helicopter program for the Orange County Fire Authority. This is the only Fire Service helicopter program in Orange County. Chief Holms has been in the Fire Service for over 35 years. Prior to his current position, he was the Fire Chief in the city of Tustin Fire Department, a Battalion Chief for the California Department of Forestry and worked for the Huntington Beach Fire Department for 9 years. His many career accomplishments include: past President of the Orange County Fire Chief's Association; member, Board of Directors for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services FIRESCOPE; member, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services Standardized Emergency Management System [SEMS] Development Advisory Committee; appointed member of the Building Standards Commission; served as Acting County Administrative Officer in 1985; past member of the Board of Directors for the Orange County Red Cross; and, past member of the Board of Directors for the Orange County Poison Prevention Foundation. I would like my colleagues in Congress to join me in recognizing Chief Holms for his outstanding service to his community. There are many deeds and courageous acts that easily distinguish Chief Holms as a firefighter, a citizen, and a leader. The citizens of Orange County have been very fortunate to have such a remarkable individual watching over them. Let us wish Chief Holms many years of enjoyment and happiness in his retirement.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues on the International Relations Committee to support the passage of H.R. 1253, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act and in particular section 217. This provision calls upon the administration to ensure that expanded trade relations with Vietnam will promote, and not hinder, Vietnam's progress toward democracy. As the Representative of the largest Vietnamese-American community in the United States, I am very concerned about the current situation in Vietnam. The U.S. State Department 1996 Report on Vietnam shows that the government continues to grossly violate human rights by incarcerating prisoners of conscience. While I believe in the Government of Vietnam's sovereign rights, we cannot ignore these offenses. Currently, thousands of religious leaders and political dissidents remain in harsh prison labor camps. As a symbol and promoter of freedom and democracy, the United States can influence and direct Vietnam toward a more democratic form of government where basic human and civil rights are respected. I urge you to put the pressure on Vietnam to respect human and civil rights by supporting this bill.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a serious problem that affects all our communities, but which is rarely addressed, that of teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy burdens us all. When teenage girls give birth, their future prospects decline dramatically. Teen mothers are less likely to complete school, they are more likely to be single mothers, and they are more likely to depend on welfare and government support. Teen pregnancy is not only a serious problem, it is a growing problem. Over half a million teenage girls become pregnant each year in our country. California has the highest amount of teen births. It was over 70,000 last year. Four thousand of those teens are young girls from Orange County, my county. My home town of Anaheim has seen the highest number of teen births for all of Orange County. That is why I am so concerned about the young women in my district, and I call upon my colleagues to take a thoughtful look at teen pregnancy in their communities. The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the industrialized world. Is this because our kids are more sexually active? No; it is because other nations treat teen pregnancy as a public health issue. We define it as a moral or social problem. Let us treat teen pregnancy like the health problem which it is, and let us practice preventive medicine. Reducing teen pregnancy will then prevent abortion and reduce high school dropout rates and the number of women who depend on welfare. Teen pregnancy is preventable. It is a possible but challenging task. We need a multifaceted approach in our communities, one that addresses not only reproductive health and abstinence but also self-esteem and responsible decisionmaking. Kids need role models, and they need to have the opportunity to be involved in extracurricular activities. That is why I will be joining the efforts of local organizations in my communities to help combat the rising rate of teen pregnancy in Orange County. I encourage all of my colleagues to take a local approach to solving a national problem.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor the Gang Victim Assistance Program and its executive director, Margot Carlson. This unique program from Orange County, CA started as a project of Community Service Programs, Inc. The Gang Victim Assistance Program and Ms. Carlson were honored with a Crime Victim Service Award by Attorney General Janet Reno on Friday, April 18, 1997. Last year, the program helped more than 970 victims of gang-related violence and their families. Since the launch of the program in 1990, it has worked closely with the Orange County district attorney's gang unit by providing support to victims and witnesses through the investigation and prosecution of each case of gang-related violence. The nonprofit human service organization is comprised of eight bicultural and bilingual victim specialists, enabling it to respond to problems that Latino crime victims face when confronted by gang violence. The program's victim specialists are continuously on call and respond to various situations which include accompanying investigating officers to the crime scene, delivering death notifications, assessing crime victims' safety and emergency needs, and providing referrals to support agencies. These situations utilize the victim specialists' training in victim support and counseling. This program has been so successful that the Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime is creating a protocol based upon gang victim assistance for other communities needing similar programs. I would like my colleagues in Congress to join me in recognizing Ms. Margot Carlson and the Gang Victim Assistance Program of Orange County, CA. Their contributions to the Orange County community have been invaluable and inspiring. I commend the Department of Justice and Attorney General Janet Reno for honoring them with the Crime Victims Service Award.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an injustice suffered by over 300 men of the Vietnam war, an injustice that spans three decades. During the war, the United States Government trained a number of South Vietnamese commandos to infiltrate North Vietnam Communist operations. Many of these commandos were captured and brutally tortured during their years of imprisonment and sustained long-term injuries. There are about 300 commandos currently living throughout the United States. It is now time for our Nation to recognize their heroic war efforts and compensate the few surviving commandos and their families. The Pentagon has failed to carry out the unanimous will of the 104th Congress to pay these brave men an average of $40,000 each for their time in captivity. In fact, while the Pentagon has delayed, three of the commandos have perished. The House Committee on Appropriations has the opportunity to fully recognize their service on behalf of the United States as they consider the supplemental appropriations bill this week. It is the least we can do to recognize their enormous sacrifice. Let us not turn our backs on the commandos.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the time to honor Ms. Christine Lopez as recipient of the Crime Victim Service Award by the Attorney General Janet Reno on Friday, April 18, 1997. Ms. Lopez is being recognized for her outstanding dedication to the Gang Victim Assistance program offered by the Community Service Programs, Inc. of Orange County, CA. The Gang Victim Assistance program was started in 1990 as a private nonprofit human service organization that helped extend other services provided by the Community Service Programs, Inc. Ms. Lopez contributes her expertise in gang-related victim and witness issues as the program's supervisor. Furthermore, Christine Lopez's involvement with the Latino community provides another benefit to a team specially created to handle victim and witness issues. This team comprises eight bicultural and bilingual victim specialists and is therefore able to respond to problems that Latino crime victims face when confronted by gang violence. These specialists are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and respond to an array of crimes that require victim support and counseling. Ms. Lopez's team services include accompanying investigating officers to the crime scene, delivering death notifications, assessing crime victim's safety and emergency needs, providing counseling services, and referrals to support groups. The team not only provides these services at the time of the crime, but continues to serve victims with support and counseling throughout the course of each case. This remarkable program has been so successful and filled with praise that the Office for Victims of Crime in the Justice Department is in the process of creating a protocol for other communities that are in need of similar programs. Ms. Lopez's dedication has earned her State and national recognition for her efforts. This recognition includes Ms. Lopez being selected to serve on the advisory board for training and technical assistance for service providers helping Hispanic victims of crime. She was the first recipient of the annual Doris Tate Award that recognizes outstanding commitment and service to victims of crime presented by Governor Pete Wilson in 1993. I would like my colleagues in Congress to join me in recognizing Christine Lopez's contributions to the victims of crime and to commend her selection as a recipient of the Crime Victims Service Award by the Department of Justice and Attorney General Janet Reno.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the substitute offered by my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller]. The Miller substitute to H.R. 1 is the real Working Families Flexibility Act. The Republican bill is an impostor that will result in paycheck reduction for all working families. If the other side had been truly interested in helping working families, then we would have created a bipartisan piece of legislation and we would have been proud to present it to the American people. Instead, we have a bill that was drafted behind closed doors and passed along party lines in committee. This is unfortunate because it is an opportunity missed. I have been an employee for public service, I have been an employee in private business, I have been an employee of a large business, I have owned my own business, and I know that H.R. 1 could have balanced the need of flexible work schedules and the requirements of employers. In my congressional district there are more than 25,000 people who make less than $15,000 per year. In addition, there are over 52,000 women who work and support their families. These women need the security of knowing that they can depend on overtime pay or use comp time to take care of their children. While I support the idea of flexible work schedules, and I wanted to support H.R. 1, the bill does not provide sufficient protections for working families. During the markup, the committee could have restored some balance to this bill. I joined my good friends, the gentlewoman from Hawaii [Mrs. Mink], the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Woolsey], and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Tierney], in offering a simple amendment that would have helped working families have a real choice and real flexibility, but, unfortunately, our amendment was turned down.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton was right in certifying to Congress Mexican cooperation on narcotics matters with the United States. Critics of the President's decision are mistaken in arguing that there has been little progress on narcotics cooperation. In recommending decertification, they exhibit a limited understanding of the fundamental changes that are occurring in Mexico and the enormous stakes for the United States of continued cooperation with one of this country's most important partners. At this delicate time in Mexican history, a decision on the part of the United States to decertify Mexico could seriously jeopardize Mexico's efforts to strengthen the rule of law and the collaboration that we have in the war against the drug lords. It would also dampen the Mexico-United States relationship, from trade, to immigration, even to border environmental concerns. The financial markets would react poorly to a rumble in bilateral relations, undermining the painstaking efforts that Mexico has made to stabilize its currency and to strengthen its economy. It is the Mexican people who would end up paying the economic price for decertification, not drug traffickers. And as one who has family in Mexico who fights every day to stop this drug trafficking, it is an affront that this Congress would think that the Mexican people are not working hard to stop drug trafficking. By certifying Mexico, the United States can continue the progress achieved thus far, mindful of the fact that drug trafficking is as much an American problem as it is a Mexican problem.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, please let the Record show that had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 50.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, please let the record show that had I been here I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 32; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 33; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 34; and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 35.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to House Resolution 89. This resolution unnecessarily singles out the President by telling him to submit a second budget while ignoring the fact that the Republican leadership has yet to present a budget of its own. We are fast approaching the statutory deadline by which we must adopt a budget resolution. Now, I have seen plenty of budgets around here: the President's, the blue dog budget, the progressive budget and several others; I might add, all of which were put forward by the Democrats. Some of them I like some pieces. Some I do not agree with. I, for one, believe we can balance the budget before the year 2002. But the problem is, without having a budget from the Republican leadership, we have nothing to talk about and no debate to go on. Today's vote is really a waste of time, and it is so sad that we show up here every day, doing the work of the people and have nothing to show for it in the end. It is time that we get beyond this. It is time that we get to work. I ask the other side to please put forward their budget, and I ask my colleagues to stand strong and work together to bring forward a budget that the American people can live with for the next year.

Mr. SANCHEZ

Mr. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House vacate the ordering of the yeas and nays on House Joint Resolution 32.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. SANCHEZ

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of my colleague, Representative Frank Tejeda who passed away on January 30, 1997. Although I did not have the privilege of meeting Representative Tejeda, I would like to join my colleagues in honoring this American hero. Congressman Tejeda leaves a legacy of dedication, hard work, and devotion to his community. He will remain a role model for the youth and Hispanics for many years to come. And as a freshman Member of Congress, I will miss his leadership, and his advice on how to better serve my constituency and the Nation. He was a dedicated citizen, serving in the Marine Corps and defending our Nation during the Vietnam war. He was a dedicated educator, receiving degrees from St. Mary's University, Berkeley, Harvard, and Yale. Congressman Tejeda was also a dedicated public servant, serving 10 years in the Texas State Legislature and 4 years in Congress. I am very proud of his achievements and contributions to our country. His passing is a great loss for our community.