José Serrano

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders).

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf), and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) for bringing this issue to our attention. Too often in this country when we speak about drug abuse and drug addiction and the problems related to drugs, the image that the American people get is that of youngsters in the inner cities. Yet one of America's so misunderstood secrets is the fact that drug addiction and drug abuse is a problem that plagues the whole society. And I really think that before the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf), the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) started to speak about this issue, this House was not fully aware of that. They put it on the map. They put provisions in this bill to deal with it. We have worked on allocating dollars to deal with the issue. And I think the country will benefit and attention will be focused, Mr. Chairman, on the fact that this is a national problem. We can speak about the issues that can really hurt the society in the long run, and certainly right up there, in my opinion, with the everlasting, unfortunate, lingering racial problems in this country is the fact that so many members of our society abuse drugs and are caught up in the horrible use of drugs. Again, in the inner city it is easier to see. We see it on street corners. We see it in front of buildings. We see it in school yards where there are thousands of students attending one school. In some of the rural and suburban communities, it is not seen the same way. It does not have the same face. But it does have the same suffering; it does have the same pain; and it threatens the society we live in in the same way. So I want to thank the three gentlemen for that, having brought this to the House's attention.

Mr. SERRANO. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, another additional comment is the fact that the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf) has done a lot of work especially in this bill on the issue of gang violence, again, one of those issues that a lot of people relate to certain parts of the country and certain types of communities. Yet we find out that gang violence is spreading throughout the country. And this bill begins to address it in a proper and strenuous way. Interestingly enough, those of us who have lived in the inner city know that there is a relationship between gang violence and drug abuse and drug addiction because those who do not use drugs but who become millionaires by providing the drugs make sure that people who are in gang-related activities and other activities in the community become addicted. Their line of business is to get people addicted, and this is the way they do it. So it is interesting that we are speaking today on a bill that addresses both issues. But the main point here is for the American people to fully understand that this is not a disease, this is not a condition, this is not a crime that is only related to certain parts of our community. It is related to the whole Nation; and it threatens us, in my opinion, as much as anything else. Years from now if we do not deal with this issue, if we let the full Nation go the way that some communities have gone, we will regret the fact that we missed an opportunity. So I am proud to be part of this effort today, and I congratulate again the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp), the gentleman from Kentucky (Chairman Rogers), and the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf).

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, let me at the outset say that the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf) knows that I know how difficult it was to put this bill together and to deal with the issues that this bill takes care of. He is right, we had to move around with a smaller allocation. In fact, the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) was gracious enough to admit that the allocation, I think he said, was thin. Yet within that allocation, we were able to come up with a bill that I think we can all support. But in the middle of that bill, or actually at the beginning of the bill, there is this gaping hole, this problem with the SBA now. There are different views as to how much of a problem this truly represents. But the fact of life is that many people on both sides of the aisle feel that it is a problem and one that needs to be dealt with. Now, in committee, full committee, I proposed an amendment which would have provided the $79 million by declaring an emergency. What I basically did at that time was move emergency disaster funds and replace the 7(a) allocation in its place. By the way, that amendment was not approved; otherwise, we would not be here right now. Under our rules, that same amendment, then, cannot be presented on the floor because of the way it was presented, and so we have this one where we have dollars that we shift around in the bill. I am not going to repeat what everybody has said. But in so many communities throughout this country, the small business community and the providers of loans believe that this is an important amendment; that this is an amendment that should, in fact, be approved and one that both sides of the aisle can support. So with the respect and admiration that I have for my chairman, and knowing well that I was an architect in putting this bill together and our staffs were, nevertheless, I feel that this is an amendment that should be approved; and I will hope that on both sides it can get the sufficient votes to pass.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, a lot has been said about this amendment today, and I want to reiterate my respect and admiration for the chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), and the fact that I cannot run away from the issue that we both participated in putting this bill together. But as I said in my original comments, and I will say again, even when we approved and supported this bill, as I do now and I would ask all my colleagues to do so for final passage, I still knew that there was a problem that had to be dealt with, and the most glaring of those problems was the 7(a) issue. It is for that reason that I stood up today and continue to stand in support of the amendment. I think the amendment speaks to an issue of a constituency throughout this country that is not only based in the lending institutions, heaven forbid I should ever be accused of supporting the lending institutions at that level, but people who feel that this is a good program and should continue to exist. Because of my support for the bill, I am very leery when we put forth any cuts, but I must say that I am not totally upset about cutting the National Endowment for Democracy, because every so often what they partake in is improperly trying to overthrow governments that they should not be involved in. So I am not going to cry tonight if we indeed take some money from them. However, I understand the concern of many members of the subcommittees. I would just hope that we see this for the greater good, which is the need to have this program restored, to have this hope fulfilled. And if we do that, if we do that, I think that we would have gone a step ahead of where we were a couple hours ago in saying that this was a good bill. The bill then would be a great bill, and that is my support.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, as I told the gentleman from Maryland, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) has been very much aware and supportive of these kinds of issues, and as this bill moves to conference, sometimes there is a window of opportunity to do some things. While we cannot promise what the end result will be, we certainly promise the gentleman from Maryland that we will work together with him to see that this moves along in a better way.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word, and I rise in opposition to the amendment. Let me first continue to do what I have always done and that is to show my respect for the gentlewoman from Texas who always speaks to these issues with great compassion and with great concern; and under normal circumstances, one could agree with her, but these are not normal circumstances: one, because this budget is so tight; two, as I keep repeating, because I believe the chairman has been very fair in providing dollars; and, lastly, we just had an amendment where we were looking for $79 million for SBA. Well, if I add this correctly, this program went up from last year's just about that amount, $79 million. So this program has done very well. To now strike at legal activities account for another $10 million, I really do not think it is necessary, and so I would oppose it and hope everyone else would; but in anticipation of a good decision by the gentlewoman from Texas, I will now yield to her.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, the gentlewoman is correct, and I share her concern. During the last 2 decades of the 20th century, the Census Bureau did not provide sufficient investment in these programs to keep up with the changing social and demographic character of the country. Eventually, the system failed, due to lack of attention. I was encouraged when the President's budget requested funds to reverse that trend. I am going to work with the chairman to see if there is some way we can rectify this situation in conference.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to the students of Intermediate School 201 of the South Bronx. IS 201's Econ Bowl team took top prize at the 2004 Econ Bowl. The Econ Bowl is a citywide contest sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Daily News to encourage middle school students to learn about economic policy. This year's competition had students consider the possible negative impact of revolutionary technologies. The students of Intermediate School 201 examined the possible effects that fuel cells would have once they come into widespread use. Led by their teacher, Mr. Finkelstein, IS 201's seventh grade team worked diligently for four months to develop their award-winning presentation; researching and talking with experts such as Undersecretary of Energy David Gordon to get a greater understanding of the subject matter. Their hard work paid off as they were more than prepared to answer tough questions asked by the judges. These impressive young people explained how fuel cells would help cut back on automobile pollution by generating electricity from hydrogen and having only water as an emission. They also examined the downsides of a fuel cell revolution such as the disruption it would cause in the shipping and auto industry by rendering crude oil obsolete and how it would negatively impact oil producing countries. However, in the end they concluded that the benefits of fuel cell technology far outweigh the negatives. Mr. Speaker, one student told a Daily News reporter that he learned that fuel cell cars could reduce the pollution that causes his asthma. My congressional district has one of the highest childhood asthma rates in the country. Throughout my career I have worked to fight the environmental injustices in the realm of air quality that have caused this disease to be so prevalent in the South Bronx. To hear the youth of my district discuss ideas for eradicating this disease makes me proud and reassures me that the South Bronx will be left in good hands. For earning first place in the 2004 Econ Bowl, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Intermediate School 201.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Richard Carrion, who served as a National Grand Marshall for the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City on June 13, 2004 and has promoted the Puerto Rican Community in all of his life's work. Richard was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in November of 1952. He received a Bachelors degree from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters degree in Management Information Systems from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1976 he began working for Banco Popular, the leading banking institution in Puerto Rico. In his early years, he oversaw the installation of the ATM system throughout the extensive branch network in Puerto Rico and the United States. Today, I am proud to say that Richard serves as president and CEO of the company. Mr. Speaker, empowerment of the Puerto Rican people remains one of Richard's top priorities. He serves as president of the Committee for the Economic Development of Puerto Rico and actively participates on the boards of several other civic organizations committed to solving problems on the island. In 1990 Richard was named a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and has been named to several of its commissions including chairman of the Finance Commission and member of the TV and Internet Rights and Marketing Commissions. In addition, he has served as a member of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, president of the Puerto Rico Olympic Trust and as a member of the 2004 Olympiad, a non- profit organization that sought to garner international support for Puerto Rico's efforts to stage the 2004 Olympic Games. Mr. Speaker, what impresses me the most about this remarkable man is his willingness to put his knowledge to work for the benefit of Puerto Ricans. For his extraordinary achievements and his outstanding service to the people of Puerto Rico, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this outstanding man.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Ramon Velez, an extraordinary community leader who has played an important role in improving housing opportunities for the people of the Bronx. Ramon was born in Colon, Panama but raised in Puerto Rico and the Bronx, NY. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration from InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico in 1978, a Masters in Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1985 and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development and Finance from New York University in 1992. He is also a graduate of the Minorities Developers Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, Ramon serves as the President of the South Bronx Community Management Company, Inc., a property management company responsible for the management and operations of approximately 2,200 units of housing. Under his leadership, the company has been able to develop over 1,300 units in the South Bronx. Recently, they successfully completed a scattered site project consisting of 18 two and three family homes in the South Bronx for first time home buyers. Mr. Speaker, I am truly appreciative of the work Ramon Velez has done for the people of my district. As a result of his strong leadership and vision many people have been able to achieve a higher standard of living in the Bronx. For his outstanding service to the people of my community, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this remarkable man.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, as we approach Memorial Day, I want to pay special tribute to the thousands of men and women who gave their lives in defense of this nation even though they were never able to fully reap its vast benefits. On January 29, 2004, the war on Iraq hit close to home as a young member of my constituency was killed. Private First Class Luis A. Moreno was a 19 year old Dominican-born immigrant who served in the Army's First Armored Division. He had been deployed in Iraq only three months before his untimely death. What was most inspiring about this courageous young man was his willingness to fight for a country that had yet to grant him citizenship. Pfc. Moreno did not vote for the President who sent him into battle. So the question is why? Why did Pfc. Moreno and others like him, who could not enjoy the full benefits of this country, decide to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of it? The fact that he took up arms may surprise some, but anyone who has a sense of America's past wars knows that this phenomenon has been ubiquitous throughout our history. During America's early wars, African Americans fought bravely for this nation even though they had not gained equal status in society. Many Japanese Americans courageously fought for this nation during World War II even as their families were placed into internment camps. I suspect that, much like the disenfranchised soldiers of those days, heroes like Pfc. Moreno continue to make these sacrifices because they believe in the promise of America; the promise of freedom and equality for all. It is this same promise that keeps immigrants coming to our shores from all parts of the world. Mr. Speaker, as we honor the countless men and women who have given their lives for this country, let us not forget that many of them fought and died even though they were never able to enjoy what they fought to preserve. It is too late for us to give rights to the thousands of Black soldiers who fought and died on the battlefields of World War II, or to allow Luis Moreno to vote in the next presidential election. But it is not too late for us to ensure that America fulfills its promise to those who continue to come to our shores in search of a better life.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to once again pay tribute to Sister Miriam Thomas S.C., a phenomenal individual who has devoted her life to enhancing the lives of others. On Saturday, May 15, 2004, the College of Mount Saint Vincent will award Sister Thomas with the Seton Medal. Named for Saint Elizabeth Seton, this rarely given medal celebrates the virtues of hard work and service and is the highest award the college confers. Sister Thomas was born and received her early education in South Brooklyn. Upon graduation from high school, she answered the calling to devote her life to God. At age 18 she entered Sisters of Charity where she received an invaluable theological education as well as a degree from Mount Saint Vincent College in the Bronx. Once she professed her vows, Sister Thomas brought her newly-honed ministry skills to Ascension Grammar School in Manhattan, where she remained for 8 years. She then relocated to Ponce, Puerto Rico where her education was enriched at Catholic University. After years of study she was finally ready for the South Bronx. There, she was assigned to St. Athanasius Parish where she has shared her gift of easing souls and invoking smiles for the past 42 years. In 1972, Sister Thomas, along with her neighbors, heard that a woman who served as the administrator of Simpson Street Development Association was murdered while on the job. Courage and an unfaltering sense of devotion allowed Sister Thomas to stand up and fill this important position. There, with a tireless and supportive staff, Sister Thomas works miracles daily by providing social services and emotional guidance to people in need. Beyond these commitments, Sister Thomas also sits on the South Bronx Community Board 2 as chairperson. Her involvements in other community-based organizations are too numerous too mention. She says that her ceaseless community involvement was inspired by Father Louis Gigante, a visionary and dear friend. Mr. Speaker, throughout her many years of service Sister Thomas has helped countless people change their outlook on life using her remarkable gift of translating the gospel into terms that lay individuals can understand. She is truly an extraordinary woman who is very much deserving of this prestigious award. For her many years of service, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring this incredible woman as the College of Mount Saint Vincent honors her with the Seton Medal.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the anniversary of one of the most important Supreme Court decisions handed down in our nation's history. On May 17, 1954 the United States Supreme Court ended federally sanctioned segregation in the case Brown v. Board of Education by unanimously ruling that ``separate but equal'' was unconstitutional. This landmark case, which overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, the 1896 Supreme Court Case in which the doctrine of ``separate but equal'' was declared constitutional, provided the legal foundation for the civil rights movement in this country. In his decision which challenged the conscience of the nation, Chief Justice Earl Warren argued: To separate [black children] from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone . . . We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of ``separate but equal'' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. These powerful words began the slow process of integration and sparked the campaign for social justice in America. Fifty years later, we have come a long way in realizing the promise of Brown but still have much work to do. While Brown broke down the barriers of segregation, many of our schools remain separate and unequal. This has occurred primarily because minority students are concentrated in urban settings where schools continue to fall short of providing adequate education. While many whites are able to leave the inner city for the suburbs where they can receive a better education, minorities remain trapped in failing urban schools simply because their parents lack the financial resources to secure a better education for their children. As a result, minority students continue to lag behind in reading, math, writing, geography and science and have a much higher dropout rate than whites, according to a recent Department of Education report. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the groundbreaking case of Brown v. Board of Education, it is imperative that we continue to work to fulfill its promise to provide equal education for all Americans regardless of their race, religion, sex or socio-economic status. Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court laid out its vision for our nation's schools. It is now time for Congress to ensure that that vision becomes reality. In this year in which Congress will reauthorize the Higher Education Act, we as a body need to take bold steps to provide poor and minority students at the primary and secondary levels with adequate resources to ensure that the door to higher education is open to all. We must fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act, protect Head Start, provide adequate funding for after school programs and make college more affordable for everyone. Doing so will help fulfill the promise of Brown, a promise that we as a nation cannot afford to break.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Greater Universal Baptist Church on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. The Greater Universal Baptist Church was established in the Bronx, New York, in 1954 and immediately became a cornerstone of the community. For fifty years this church has served not only as a place of worship but as a community institution where individuals could build relationships with neighbors and develop skills necessary for success in everyday life. Whether through after school programs, community festivals, clothing distributions or movie nights at the church, the Greater Universal Baptist Church has found ways to engage the people of the Bronx. In 1998, the church founded the Community Development Corporation in an effort to develop the area surrounding the church. As a result of their efforts and those of the Atlantic Development Group, 204 units of housing and three community centers will be added to the community's landscape in the near future. Mr. Speaker, I cannot say enough about the efforts of the Greater Union Baptist Church to uplift the people of the Bronx. Through various activities, including feeding the homeless and holding community based seminars for job development, health care and spiritual enrichment, they help the people of my district enjoy a higher standard of living. For fifty years of service to people of the Bronx, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Greater Universal Baptist Church and in wishing them another prosperous fifty years.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with joy that I rise today to once again pay tribute to Bronx Community College, which will hold its 26th Anniversary Hall of Fame 10K Run on Saturday, May 1, 2004. The Hall of Fame 10K Run was founded in 1978 by Bronx Community College's third president, Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, and today continues to be an event of great significance. Each year, amateur and professional runners alike from all five of New York's boroughs and the entire tri- state area come together to run in the Bronx. Participants include teams from municipal agencies along with faculty, staff and students of Bronx Community College and other nearby schools. It is indeed one of the Bronx's most anticipated yearly events and has contributed to a strong sense of community within the Bronx. The race also places an emphasis on physical fitness and achieving athletic goals. Historically, its mission has been to highlight the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, a national institution dedicated to those who have helped make America great. The 10K race tradition continues under the stewardship of Bronx Community College's current president, Dr. Carolyn G. Williams. Dr. Williams has endorsed the race since her inauguration and has not only continued the tradition started by Dr. Brown, to promote physical fitness and highlight higher education, but has added raising awareness of important community issues. I can recall the high level of energy and community involvement each of the 20 plus years I ran in the Hall of Fame 10K race. The race has attracted well over 400 runners each year and I am sure this year will see an even larger number of participants. Mr Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the individuals and participants who make the Bronx Community College's Annual Hall of Fame 10K Run possible.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Lincoln University, a fine institution of higher learning that will celebrate its 150th anniversary on May 6, 2004. Lincoln University was established in Pennsylvania in 1854 as the nation's first Historically Black College and University (HBCU). During its first 100 years of existence, Lincoln graduated twenty percent of America's African American physicians and more than ten percent of the country's African American attorneys. Currently, Lincoln is one of the nation's largest producers of African Americans with baccalaureate degrees in the physical sciences, computer and information sciences, and biological and life sciences. Lincoln University has produced top leaders who have gone on to make major contributions in the civil rights movement, the independence movements in Africa and the global information society. Among the more visible graduates of Lincoln are: Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall '30; poet and playwright Langston Hughes '29; the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah '39; and the first African American female rear admiral in the U.S. Navy, Lillian Fishburne '71. Lincoln University also has the unique distinction of having graduates who went on to found U.S or Foreign Universities. The list of universities include South Carolina State University; Livingston College (North Carolina); Albany State University (Georgia) and Texas Southern University. Mr. Speaker, this remarkable institution of higher learning has helped develop some of the best minds in the world. Their commitment to excellence in education is to be commended. For this reason, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring this fine institution on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Elyse Leon, a remarkable woman who has dedicated the past three years of her life to the restoration of the Bronx River, which is vital to my congressional district. Elyse began working for the restoration of the Bronx River on March 21, 2001, while a student at New York University. After graduating with a double major in Spanish and Psychology, she became a full time Bronx River Outreach Coordinator for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Bronx River Alliance. Elyse has been an outstanding ambassador for the Bronx River. Working with residents, colleagues and more than 70 partner organizations of the Bronx River Alliance, as well as with the board, teams and staff of the Alliance, Elyse has found multiple ways to involve people in the Bronx River renaissance, whether by planting, cleaning, biking, paddling, walking, planning or dancing. In all of these activities and more, Elyse has a talent for making people feel welcome. For three years Elyse has successfully organized two very important annual events; the Bronx River Flotilla and the Golden Ball Celebration. These two events, which I have attended, draw a large number of supporters to the river to celebrate its restoration. In addition, Elyse could be found at innumerable community meetings, outdoor events, and Bronx River Alliance gatherings, encouraging people to get involved with the Bronx River and its greenway. She also produced a biweekly e-mail newsletter and other publications, such as the recent Safety Guide to River Park, which reached thousands of people. Mr. Speaker, the restoration of the Bronx River has been one my top priorities as a Member of both the New York Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives. Rejuvenating its greenway and corridor will provide recreational, educational and economic resources for the communities through which the river flows. Such an important project could not have been undertaken without the participation of dedicated and resourceful individuals like Elyse Leon. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Ms. Elyse Leon for her years of service as Outreach Coordinator for the Bronx River Alliance and in wishing her well in all her future endeavors.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition as they celebrate their 30th anniversary. Formed in 1974, the NWBCCC is a 501(c)3 organization with the mission of uniting area residents to identify common problems and empowering them to work together to solve them. The NWBCCC unites nine neighborhood organizations and a youth organization, Sistas and Brothas United, in an effort to improve the neighborhoods of the Bronx. They seek to influence the most important decisions that are made within their community, such as private investment patterns, the delivery of government services and major land use considerations. This important organization is engaged in several initiatives aimed at improving housing and education. The NWBCCC Housing Committee provides tenant organizing assistance to over 75 tenant associations, resulting in hundreds of repairs and reinvestments to buildings each year. NWBCCC has also worked extensively to reduce overcrowding in schools. In 1999 and 2000 the organization's efforts led to the construction of over six new schools and annexes. Mr. Speaker, what impresses me the most about this organization is its commitment to youth. Sistas and Brothas United, the youth organization within NWBCCC, has made great strides to help develop the minds of the youth in my community. SBU organizes hundreds of neighborhood youth to build youth leadership in order to identify local problems and work to bring about solutions. SBU's work currently focuses on school reform, campaigns to renovate abandoned buildings to become schools and youth centers, and efforts to improve parks and traffic safety. In an effort to raise the consciousness of people within their community, some of the members of SBU have begun to compose and perform thought provoking and insightful poetry. The following is a poem that was written by Jorman Nunez and Jacklyn Torres, active members of SBU. JN: Jacky And I are going to tell ya something from our prospective so listen to our lyrics JT: Jorman got something to tell yall now, so Jorman let em hear it JN: Asthma rates have been going up and all I do is gasp and pant What are they doing to fix this? They're building another filtration plant And what amazes me is in the Bronx they want to do it Using the excuse of in a couple of years our water's going to be polluted Trying to take the Bronx down well we don't want to destroy her Besides . . . the only reason it's going to get polluted is cause they're constantly letting development be done over our water so they're basically polluting our water and trying to fix it later as a solution And build a plant to put smoke in there air and cause more pollution There's something else I want to say ladies and gents Check this out look at this environmental statement Planning to build it in our low class area cause the statement say they should And rejected putting it in another place just cause it was a white upper class neighborhood We have to do whatever in our power to stop this by all means Cause I'm tired of seeing all this atrocious disappointing scenes JT: Attention every one, ladies and gentlemen gather round The other night I'm writing a poem and my ceiling's fallin down Now yall must be wondering if my landlord is a clown Well his name's * * * * *, so how does that sound Since the landlord don't wanna help with the infestation of rats I guess the only solution is to buy 10,000 cats And as the funds for us go up, the neighborhood's still in strife Unfortunately, because of this, a small child lost his life Even after this, we remain on the same path How many more casualties will we have, you do the math So until these the problems are solved, don't even think of us relaxin Cuz I still can't understand why a slumlord lives in a mansion So I've said what yall need to know until we see better days But my turn is over so Jorman say what you gotta say JN: This has been keeping me up and I can't even rest I just need to get a couple of things off my chest the Governor is probably annoyed and thinks he's being mistreated Shouldn't we be angry whenever he says education is vital and doesn't even mean it Politicians get angry when we get so mad we shiver and shudder But don't we have a right to be angry when we have books older than my grandmother Governor I got something to tell you only once there won't be a sequel We never are going to stop bothering you until all education is equal Governor when I see you I'm going to be mean with my salutation You're going to hear all of the angry voices of the minorities that you said only need an 8th grade education I think you and the position of governor should start doing its separation Cause the last time I checked governors aren't suppose to gamble with our education They're suppose to help with problems that come along until they see no But I guess he just rather be gambling with our future in one of his casinos But listen I'm done I don't want to waste more of your time Jacky it's your turn give them a piece of your mind JT: Soldiers of society trying to keep their eyes on me In their hands is my education And I blindly search for academic salvation Though I have no books to read, no chairs to sit in, no room to breathe And yall say keep your head up Well, to tell you the truth, I'm fed up Even the Governor says we don't need college All we need is an eight-grade education? Yeah, that's enough knowledge Though my sarcasm seems amusing, It's dripping with the truth Why does the government fail to realize the importance of our youth? Governor, I have some things I'd like to say But they would be inappropriate So Jorman, it's your turn to play JN: Jacky ya kind of mad ya need to rest At least both of us got that stress off our chest So that's just a part of what we know I hope this wasn't a loss I just want to let ya see a couple of our points get across JT: Yo Jorman look at their faces, don't they look kind of stunned? JN: And that was just us two imagine all of us as one anniversary JT: Man, if they only knew the power they hold in their hearts and in their voices JN: Together they have the power to move mountains its all up to there choices JT: So Jorman don't you think it's about time they get involved? JN: Yeah cause if all of us unite all out problems would be solved JT: Yeah, we should follow the examples of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and Dr. King JN: Cause they all fought for what they believed in and now they're letting freedom ring JN & JT: You have power in a lot of things, don't listen to all their lies Cuz no one can ever take away your right to organize This powerful poem demonstrates the level of awareness these youth possess and their strong commitment to empowering their community. Mr. Speaker, through housing and education initiatives as well as youth empowerment programs the NWBCCC continues to provide invaluable service to the people of the Bronx. For their 30 years of service, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring this remarkable organization.