José Serrano

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Veralyne Hamilton, a remarkable woman whose lifelong commitment to her family, friends and the Bronx contributed to the nourishment and strengthening of our community. Her memory was honored on October 17 for her outstanding contributions to the communities at the Eighth Annual Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner hosted by the 163d Street Improvement Council, Inc. in New York. Years of experience, dedication, and hard work led to her 1984 appointment as director of Community Boards and Affairs in the administration of Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, the position she held at the time of her passing last year. Previously, Ms. Hamilton served as the second vice chairperson for the Bronx Model Cities Program Committee from 1968 to 1972. She assisted in the development of proposals in physical development, education, multi-services, safety and sanitation for the Bronx. Her involvement in the Model Cities Program inspired and motivated her to pursue a career in urban planning. Besides her service for the Model Cities Program, Ms. Hamilton was a member of Community Board #3 which includes the Morrisania community. She served as chairperson of the board and went on to become its district manager. From 1973 to 1981, Ms. Hamilton was director of Labor Sherman Daycare in the Bronx. The center serves 235 children in daycare and after- school programs. She stressed the need to provide educational and housing workshops to parents and their children at the center. Many parents who initially were welfare recipients had enrolled in college by the time their children graduated from the daycare center. Ms. Hamilton was born in 1934 in Norfolk, VA. She relocated to the Bronx in 1958 and attended Hunter College where she earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in urban planning. She married Winston Hamilton and had four daughters, Pamela, Winifred and twins Joan and Joy. She had four grandchildren Malik, Yusef, Shani and Ziad. Ms. Hamilton left a legacy of courage, faith, hope, responsibility, love, and commitment to her family and community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying homage to the life of Veralyne Hamilton, who still remains with us through the many people she served and touched.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Teodoro Vidal, a Puerto Rican businessman and art collector, who has donated his splendid collection of colonial artwork from Puerto Rico to the Smithsonian Institution. ``Colonial Art From Puerto Rico: Selections From the Gift of Teodoro Vidal'', part of Vidal's remarkable endowment to the Smithsonian, is now on exhibit through March 8, 1998 at the National Museum of American Art. Most of his collection will be exhibited in July when the National Museum of American History opens ``Teodoro Vidal: A Collector and His Collection.'' Mr. Vidal, believed in the need to preserve the Puerto Rican patrimony. Forty years ago he started collecting santos, figures of saints and other religious personalities carved in wood, when he saw that tourists were buying most of the pieces and taking them out of the island. His collection--3,200 historical and cultural artifacts from Puerto Rico--includes paintings by Jose Campeche, recognized as the greatest Latin American painter of the 18th century, portrait miniatures, costumes, amulets, jewelry, masks, toys, photographs, and 700 ``santos''. Some of the pieces date back to the 17th century. Vidal's treasure is one of the largest donations by an individual to the Smithsonian Institution. Today the Smithsonian will honor Teodoro Vidal for his breathtakingly valuable gift to the American people. Exhibitions of this magnitude will contribute to the understanding of Latin American peoples, their histories, and diverse cultures. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and their staff to visit this extraordinary exhibit, and to join me in recognizing Mr. Teodoro Vidal for his magnanimous gift to the Smithsonian Institution, a gift which is a blessing for the peoples of this Nation.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Celia Cruz--world renowned singer of Latin music. The Smithsonian Institution will honor her on October 16, during a special program entitled `` `tAzucar!,' The Smithsonian Honors Celia Cruz''. The Smithsonian will present Celia Cruz with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Music from the National Museum of American History's Programa Latino. Celia Cruz, popularly known as the ``Queen of Latin Music'', will dontate one of her most famous costumes to the National Museum of American History. Cruz first rose to fame in her native Cuba as one of the most exciting and creative performers of ``mambo'' of the late 40's. Since then, Cruz has achieved one success after another. In 1950, she joined the legendary orchestra La Sonora Matancera with whom she recorded 20 gold albums and toured the United States and Latin America. Her artistic alliance with Tito Puente--``the King of Latin Music''--as well as with Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colon, and the Fania All-Stars in the 1970's resulted in numerous albums and enduring fame. More recently, she has performed with David Byrne, Ray Barretto, Emilio Estefan, Willie Chirino, and Olga Tanon. During her successful 50-year career, Celia Cruz has recorded over 70 albums, won a Grammy Award and 10 Grammy nominations. She performed in various films, including ``The Perez Family'' and ``The mambo Kings'', and has been recognized with more than 100 awards from publications and institutions around the world. Among other honors, Cruz received an honorary doctorate from Yale University, a star on Hollywood Boulevard, and recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Celia Cruz for her extraordinary talent, her vibrant contributions to the history of music, and her generous gift to the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. SERRANO

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

Mr. SERRANO

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

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I object.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, let me see if I get this straight. The gentlewoman from California [Ms. Sanchez] wins an election in California, she is certified by a Republican Secretary of State, she comes to the House and takes her seat, and she begins to do her district's work. Then all of a sudden Republicans launch an unprecedented attack not only on the Hispanic voters in her district, but on Hispanic voters throughout the Nation. This is the same party that is telling us that they want to bring Hispanics into their party and invite them in. Well, they must have hired the same consultant to do this advice that told them to close down the Government a couple years ago. I suggest they are getting ripped off. Let the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Sanchez] go. Stop harassing Hispanic voters. She is here, and she is going to stay.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, once again we find the Republicans caught in a very big contradiction. On one hand they put out feelers to the Hispanic community saying, ``Come into the party, join us, we want to serve you, we want to help you.'' On the other hand they launch the unprecedented attack on Loretta Sanchez and Hispanics throughout the Nation, somehow insisting that every Hispanic in the country, perhaps including myself, participated on election day in some fraud to get Loretta elected. It is time that Americans realize that this is their way of not dealing with the truth. Self-denial is a very pitiful state to be in, and that is what Republicans find themselves in. Americans do not like it. Hispanics like it even less. It is time that Republicans got it through their right-wing, reactionary minds that this is not going to work. It is not going to work. Loretta won fair and square, and it is time to let her go on with this work in this House and stop harassing Hispanics throughout this country.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. for its 25 years of fruitful service to the South Bronx community. In 1972, U.S. Senators Jacob Javits, New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams, and six major banks joined together to establish the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. [SOBRO]. The corporation was founded at a time when the South Bronx was suffering from major economic devastation, jobs were scarce, and people were leaving the area. Over the past 25 years, SOBRO has successfully encouraged investment and economic growth in the South Bronx and has provided education and job training to area residents. Among its many accomplishments, SOBRO has trained or placed in jobs more than 20,000 residents, created or retained more than 30,000 jobs in the area, stimulated more than $120 million in investments, and assisted in the reconstruction of commercial districts. In collaboration with Mott Haven neighborhood strategies project, SOBRO has been successful in training residents and placing them in jobs with businesses in empowerment zone areas. SOBRO also provides business training and technical assistance to minority entrepreneurs. It has also established a credit loan program to facilitate financial services, including loans for small businesses. In addition, by forming partnerships with local businesses and area high schools, SOBRO has succeeded in providing valuable internship programs and part-time jobs for high school and intermediate school students. The organization also trains adults in many skills including cable installation, computer repair, home health care, customer service, and building maintenance. Moreover, SOBRO has assisted in the transformation of abandoned buildings into affordable housing and commercial space. It currently has many projects underway, including the reconstruction of a 60-unit housing project for people living with AIDS. In addition, SOBRO has been successful in renovating Bruckner Boulevard, which has attracted many artists, antique shops, and other businesses to the area. Changes in the welfare law are placing greater constraints on organizations like SOBRO that are trying to assist people in need. Despite this, SOBRO has continued to provide quality services to low- income South Bronx residents and to attract businesses to the area. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to recognize SOBRO for it 25 years of achievements, training and educating the youth, spurring economic growth, and beautifying our South Bronx congressional district.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 2209, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for 1998. This has not been an easy year for this bill, but the gentleman from New York, Chairman Walsh, has worked exceptionally hard to keep the bill moving and to forge a decent compromise in conference. He deserves great praise for his work, and I personally also wanted to thank the gentleman for the way he has treated me with dignity and respect and our staff. Mr. Speaker, it is our responsibility on this subcommittee to provide the people's branch of our Government with the resources needed to carry out our legislative and oversight functions effectively, although some in this House do not seem to understand that. We must also consider the health and safety of all who work in and visit the Capitol complex and the physical integrity of this Capitol building and the other historic structures on our campus. Again, we sometimes run into the problem of some Members do not seem to care about that. There are necessary investments that still cannot be made within the spending limits of this bill. However, on balance the conferees have moved the bill in the right direction. For the House alone, the conference report is about $25 million, or 3.6 percent, above fiscal year 1997, which is not an unreasonable increase. Not counting Senate items, the conference report totals not quite $14 million, or less than 1 percent above fiscal year 1997. Levels in the conference report are modestly increased from the House bill for the Architect of the Capitol and the Library of Congress. The biggest difference between the House bill and the conference report is in GAO, which would receive the funding necessary to stabilize its staffing after 2 years of major downsizing. I should also mention the Joint Committee on Taxation. Some have characterized House Democrats' efforts to reduce a requested increase of 12 staff positions, or 20 percent, for Joint Committee on Taxation for the year after the historic tax bill as partisan. Let me point out that Senators are, at least, as dissatisfied with JCT, and, at least, as insistent on reining it in as we are. The concerns about the committee's role in making tax policy, its chief of staff, remember, acknowledged that tobacco lobbyists wrote the secret tobacco tax break that surfaced in the bill, and its responsiveness to Members are completely bipartisan. Indeed, the chairman of the Senate subcommittee was harshly critical of the Joint Committee on Taxation in conference. He was the author of bill language that would have cut the JCT increase to 1 staff position and required JCT to use that position to assist Members who are not on the Tax Committees. In conference, the Senate gave in on this bill language, but pressed very hard for compromise report language found on page 26 of the conference report that puts joint tax on notice with the following: That both House and Senate Members expect timely and responsive assistance with revenue estimates, regardless of the committees they sit on; the conferees will monitor the committee's responsiveness, and, if improvements are not evident, the conferees may take statutory action next year. So, we see the frustrations are real and held on both sides of the aisle and on both sides of the dome. The leadership of the Tax Committee should take note of this. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I support this conference report and urge my colleagues to support it so we can get the bill enacted before the start of fiscal year 1998 next week.

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

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. James Roundtree, an individual who is dedicated to helping others in the South Bronx community. Mr. Roundtree is currently the director of St. Benedict the Moor Neighborhood Center, a grassroots organizations which provides assistance to people living with AIDS and with substance abuse problems. At the center, located on St. Ann's Avenue, hot meals are served to 200 people a day, 5 days a week. The center also provides referrals to medical facilities, housing, and 12-step programs for victims of substance abuse problems. The center is funded in part by donations. Some of the center's staff are paid by the national Americorps Program; however, many workers are volunteers. Mr. Roundtree became the director of the center after Rev. Roger Ciglio, the founder of the program, passed away in 1990. Once a patient of the center himself, Mr. Roundtree has been committed to giving back to those in need. Over the past 7 years, Mr. Roundtree has been a friend, a counselor, and an inspiration for many who, like him, have been victims of substance abuse. Mr. Roundtree says that he does not give up on anybody. He knows first hand the difficult challenges faced by recovering victims. St. Benedict the Moor Neighborhood Center formed a coalition with St. Ann's Church, Public School 30, and the Parks Council, to revitalize the area surrounding the center--the Mott Haven community. The coalition created a garden from 139th to 140th Street. Recovering patients take part in a gardening program as part of their therapy sessions. The garden is now visited by students and families with children. It is also the home for summer jazz concerts. Mr. Roundtree may leave the center because of health reasons. His contributions to the community have not gone unnoticed and will not be forgotten. They are encouraging to the many individuals he has helped and for those who may follow in his footsteps. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. James Roundtree for his compassion and dedication to helping others in our South Bronx community.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Holy Family Parish for its 100 years of providing spiritual guidance, counseling, and education to the south Bronx community. On September 20, the parish celebrated its 100th anniversary in my south Bronx congressional district. On this joyful occasion, Archbishop John Cardinal O'Connor officiated at a Thanksgiving Mass. Parishioners joined together in prayer to thank the Lord for the parish's 100 years of fruitful service. Holy Family Parish has a long and inspiring history of perseverance and commitment to making a difference in the south Bronx. Through the years, the church has served a vibrant community of people from many ethnic backgrounds. In the late 1890's, Rev. Joseph S. Mechler saw the need to serve an emerging community in the Bronx. In the fall of 1897, the cornerstone for the new church was laid, and by Christmas of that same year the congregation celebrated their first mass in the new building. Archbishop Michael Corrigan dedicated the church in 1898. He lived in the basement of the parish and served his community until his final years. Since 1903, eight pastors have faithfully served the parish. Among them was Father Urban Nageleisen, who served the church for 37 years, until his death in 1949. He was a friend and spiritual adviser to the growing German immigrant community of the time. Under his pastorate, the church also established a school for children with the help of the Sisters of St. Agnes. During the difficult years of the Depression, the church continued serving the faithful and the congregation actually grew in numbers. With the passing away of Father Nageleisen, Father John Mechler assumed the leadership of the church. During those years, the church and the convent that housed the Sisters of St. Agnes were both very deteriorated. Pastor Mechler proposed and raised the funding to build a new convent and a new church in the south Bronx. The new parish kept the original cornerstone. Throughout its history, the Holy Family Parish has been responsive to the changing needs of its community. In 1981, the parish celebrated their first mass in Spanish in recognition of the growing Hispanic community, which had become an integral part of the church. In addition, the lower part of the church has been transformed into a meeting place for senior citizens, where hot lunches, recreational activities, and medical services are provided. Today, Father James D. Flanagan leads the church. After 100 years, the church continues to be a catalyst of positive change in our community. Over 700 children are currently enrolled in the school, which educates students from kindergarten to eighth grade. In addition, hundreds of members of the community have grown in their faith. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Holy Family Parish for its 100 years of history at the service of the south Bronx community.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to pay tribute to the Parish of St. Raymond Nonnatus, which yesterday celebrated 100 years of serving the community in my South Bronx congressional district. The parish was named after a 13th century Spanish mercedarian and cardinal. It is located at 1759 Castle Hill Avenue, in the Bronx. A mass of Thanksgiving offered by Archbishop John Cardinal O'Connor opened the ceremonies of the parish's 100th anniversary. The church belongs to the family of parishes that were established in the late 1890's in New York City; among them is Holy Family Parish, which this year also celebrates its 100th anniversary. The origins of St. Raymond Nonnatus Parish date back to 1843. A small church was erected under the leadership of Bishop John Hughes. In the 1890's Father Edward McKenna saw the church in poor condition and decided to erect a new building. The church was built in 1897 in a beautiful Byzantine style, with wonderful stained-glass windows. Since its beginnings, the church has served a multiethnic community. In the early 1900's Catholics from all over Europe were members of the congregation. More recently, African-Americans and members of the Hispanic and Asian communities have joined the parish. In 1908, under the pastorate of Father McKenna, a school was established to educate the children of the community. In the 1950's, Father Thaddeus Tierney oversaw the construction of a new school of accommodate the growing number of students. Even today, it remains one of the best equipped elementary schools in the Nation. In addition, two other schools were established, the Boy's High School in 1958, and St. Raymond's Academy for Girls in 1960. A convent, a rectory and a cemetery are also integral parts of the parish. Since the 1970's a social ministry was expanded to better serve the needs of the community. Monsignor Henry J. Vier added a Spanish mass to the Sunday schedule. He also established the Bronx Association for Special Education, the Archdiocesan Drug Addiction Program and the East Bronx Hunger Program. Through the years, the church has been renovated several times. It now houses a magnificent marble alter, a great canopy, and an organ. Today Father Charles Kavanagh leads the church. He is the 16th pastor of St. Raymond Nonnatus Parish. The parish now provides the community with various social services, including the Family Outreach and Youth Program, St. Raymond's Head Start, an expanded East Bronx Hunger Program, the After School Program, and the senior center. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Parish of St. Raymond Nonnatus for its glorious history and service to our South Bronx community.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Hunts Point Multi-Service Center, Inc., for 30 years of service to the South Bronx community. The anniversary was celebrated on September 14 at 630 Jackson Avenue, in my South Bronx congressional district. Ramon S. Velez, the center's founder and president, understood the need to establish a center that could provide South Bronx residents with a wide variety of services right in the community. The Center started as a Federal demonstration project, established with the collaboration of Federal, State, and local governments. Throughout its 30 years of service, the center has been a model of excellence in providing our community with quality health care, counseling, substance abuse services, education, training, child care, and housing services. With the collaboration of a qualified staff, the center expanded its network to include additional services in conjunction with other local organizations and medical centers. Among these are: the South Bronx Mental Health Council, the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, United Bronx Parents, the Bronx Perinatal Consortium, the New York State Division of Parole, the Osborne Association, Argus Community, and the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center. Highlights of the 30th anniversary celebration were the inauguration of a new health center and dedications for a new Head Start Center and the South Bronx School of Technology. It also featured a community parade, an ethnic festival, and performances by many artists, including Tito Puente. The achievements of the Hunts Point Multi-Service Center are measured by the people it has served. Thousands of residents have been employed and benefited from the center's education and training programs. And hundreds of thousands of people, from children to senior citizens, have received quality health care. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to honor the family and friends of the Hunts Point Multi-Service Center, Inc. for their 30 years of success and dedication serving the South Bronx community.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following tribute for publication in the Congressional Record. It was presented on September 13, 1997, at a special event in my South Bronx congressional district. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of the most famous orchestras of Cuban music of all times--the ``Orquesta Aragon,'' from Cuba. ``Orquesta Aragon'' will perform on September 13 at a special event at Hostos Community College in my South Bronx congressional district. Thousands of people are expected to attend and enjoy the music of this world famous orchestra. At this event, Andy Montanez, one of Cuba's most talented composers and singers, will join the orchestra. The success of this event is a symbol of the close relationship that exists between the people of that Caribbean Island, the South Bronx community and beyond. ``Orquesta Aragon'' was founded in 1939 by bass player Orestes Aragon. In 1945, violin player Rafael Lay became the director of the orchestra at the age of 19. During the 1940's and 1950's, it became the best orchestra of ``son'', ``mambo'', ``danzon'', and ``cha-cha-cha'' in Cuba. As a publication in Cuba simply described it: ``Charanga bands were divided into two groups; in one was Aragon and, in the other, were all the rest.'' That was the time when all radio stations in Havana carried Aragon music. This fact, and the signing of a recording contract with RCA- Victor, assured the orchestra tremendous international success. The orchestra went on tour and gained the hearts of fans in Europe, the Far East and the Americas. It has performed on famous stages worldwide, including the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and the Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. One of the compositions created by Richard Egues, ``El Bodeguero'', was soon recorded by Nat King Cole and other famous musicians. With the passing away of Rafael Lay, the orchestra's baton was passed on to Richard Egues, and most recently to Lay's son, Rafael Lay, Jr. Throughout its 58 years of playing great Afro-Cuban music, ``Orquesta Aragon'' has recorded over 700 tunes and recorded dozens of LP's and CD's. It has also received numerous honors, including the Egrem's Grand Prize for breaking record sales with its golden anniversary recording, ``50 Anos de Oro.'' The orchestra continues to be acclaimed internationally. In 1992, it enjoyed great success at the Carnival in Barranquilla, Colombia. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the exceptional talent of the ``Orquesta Aragon'' and in wishing its members continued success.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my motion would simply direct the House conferees to do the fiscally responsible thing when we take up the funding level for the Joint Committee on Taxation and agree to the Senate position. The Senate bill would give the Joint Committee on Taxation a tidy 4.6- percent increase over last year. We think that it is more than fair. The House bill, in my view, was overly generous in providing an 8- percent increase for this office. In comparison, in the name of fiscal discipline, both bills provide increases of only 3.6 percent for the operation of the House and less than 2 percent for such vital agencies as a Congressional Budget Office and the Government Printing Office [GPO]. The House bill actually cuts funding for the General Accounting Office by $8 million below last year. In light of these funding levels, it is inappropriate and inconsistent to turn around and reward one office with an 8-percent increase. Moreover, the justification for this increase does not stand up to any reasonable level of scrutiny. I think the American people could question why we would increase the staff of this office the year after work is completed on a major tax bill, especially when at the same time we are cutting GAO whose main purpose is to look for wasteful Federal spending and save taxpayers money. If the existing staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation could operate effectively this year when they worked on what we are told over and over again was a major historic tax bill, one would think they could manage the work load during a more routine year without all this extra staff. So, Mr. Speaker, we are simply calling on the House to be more consistent in imposing fiscal austerity within the legislative branch. We should treat all offices the same, not give special treatment to a favored few. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct conferees.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey], our ranking member.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to explain my vote yesterday against the conference report on H.R. 2015, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and to express my opposition to adoption today of the conference report on H.R. 2014, the Revenue Reconciliation Act. Reconciliation has always meant one bill on revenues and spending, and these two bills must be viewed as a single package. As many speakers before me have said, there are good things in both bills--restored SSI and Medicaid for legal immigrants; tax credits for children and for education; funds for health insurance for uninsured children; empowerment zones and brownfields; Medicare coverage of preventive services; funds to soften some of the worst provisions of last year's welfare reform. Both bills are certainly far, far better than the versions that passed the House and the Senate--gone are the hits on Medicare beneficiaries; the consignment of workfare participants to a second class status; denial of child tax credits to lower income working families; indexing of capital gains rates; expansion of the definition of ``independent contractor''--and Democrats, including the gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel], the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Spratt], and the President and his team, deserve credit for that. But they still aren't good enough. Beyond the pluses and minuses, and the tables showing who gains and who loses, there are fundamental problems with this budget package. First, it widens the gap between rich and poor in this Nation, when we should be working to increase fairness and narrow the income gap. Republicans seem to think money made from money is superior to money made from work. Under these bills, working people's salaries will continue to be taxed at existing rates, but rates will be cut on profits from securities or property. People who earn just enough to get by will get a small break--if they have children--but people who have spare money to put into the new back-loaded IRA's will get all their future interest tax-free. And people leaving large estates will be able to pass on much more without tax. A Citizens for Tax Justice analysis of the tax bill shows that, among income groups, the lowest 20 percent will actually pay more taxes, while the top 20 percent will get more than 75 percent of the benefits. The top 1 percent alone will get more than 30 percent of the benefits. In dollar terms, this means that those in the lowest 20 percent will pay $39 a year more in taxes, while those in the highest 1 percent will get a $16,000 break. Doesn't sound like tax fairness to me. My second problem is that the reconciliation package rewards the rich with immediate tax cuts and puts off the tough decisions on spending cuts and entitlement reforms. The justification for separating this year's reconciliation legislation into two bills seems to be to avoid accusations that Medicare cuts are to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy--to try to fool the American people by not including both in one bill. But it is a fact that in the current climate of deficit reduction we cannot afford to give anyone tax cuts unless we also cut spending. Yesterday's spending reduction bill is not needed to reform Medicare-- it won't--or to make tough specific cuts in spending--it doesn't--but to make room for tax cuts. The future cuts in appropriations required to reach the goal of a balanced budget by 2002 are not specified, but examples given by our colleagues yesterday and today make it clear how deep they would have to be and how unlikely a future Congress would be to inflict such pain. Medicare savings are business as usual--cuts in provider payments-- and reform is left to a commission. Medicaid cuts are almost entirely taken from the hospitals that serve large numbers of poor and uninsured people, hospitals that are already reeling from prior cuts and from the changes going on in the health care industry. But the tax cuts begin kicking in now--the capital gains rate cuts are even retroactive. My third problem is that these bills threaten to starve our future. Even if all the rosy assumptions are correct, and the economy continues to flourish, and tax losses don't explode, many necessary investments in our physical and social infrastructure will be unaffordable. I don't believe in term limits, and I hope to be here in 5 years, even in 10 years, but I certainly don't look forward to dealing with the budget situation we will face then because of these bills. Mr. Speaker, there are highly visible problems with these bills, but I am also worried about the invisible. In the Republicans' unseemly rush to pass something--anything--and go on vacation, few Members have had the time to thoroughly study and understand both bills. Already, there are reports of ``rifle shot'' tax breaks and other goodies tucked in, in obscure language. Who knows what's in there. By itself, that should be reason enough to delay the conference report until September. Mr. Speaker, I can count. I know this tax bill will pass as easily as yesterday's spending bill did, and the President will sign both, but you should be aware that Democrats will make every effort in the months and years to come to correct the excesses and restore fairness to our government's taxing and spending policies. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and vote against this regressive bill.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Fred Daris. He has been a dear friend and lifelong teacher to me as well as to the youth in the South Bronx community. On August 4, Mr. Daris turns 70 years old. A man who has given so much of his life to our community, he still holds ambitious dreams for our youth, most of which he has very well accomplished. Mr. Daris is the founder and executive director of the South Bronx Community Action Theater, established nearly 40 years ago at I.S. 139, in my South Bronx congressional district. The theater was born from Mr. Daris' desire to provide our youth with quality education and the opportunity to express themselves through the wonderful world of the arts. This performing and creative arts center evolved from the Burger Players, a student theater group which performed in area schools and at special community events. From the South Bronx Community Action Theater have graduated thousands of students who later became professionals in various fields. Some have joined the center's extended family, such as Mr. Rick Scott, who became the theater's administrator. I was also a product of that dream, as one of the first students to participate in the Burger Players. Guided by Mr. Daris' determination, knowledge, and wisdom, youngsters who are part of the theater complete their studies with a sense of accomplishment and of a bright future before them. At the center, students learn dance, drama, singing, the plastic arts, costume design, how to play an instrument, and all other components of an artistic production. They learn to visualize their dreams and to reach out for them. In addition to Mr. Daris' commitment to the center, the South Bronx Community Action Theater has been in existence in large part through funding provided by title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and with the collaboration of parents and other members of the community. Mr. Daris has always looked after his community. Before he founded the South Bronx Community Action Theater, he had already accumulated a wealth of experience as the director of St. Marks Playhouse and of the Royal Playhouse, both in New York; as dramatic arts instructor at Cambridge School of Radio and Television Broadcasting; as the founder of the Stamford Playhouse, in Connecticut; and as assistant director at the Mark Hellinger Theater and Carnegie Hall. He also created a theater group at every Greek church that could offer plays in English and Greek in Greater New York. He is the first American citizen to receive a royal scholarship awarded by King Paul and Queen Frederika of Greece, to study at the Royal Theater of Greece. He also completed studies at Irvine School for the Theater, Adelphi College, Long Island University, and Fordham University Theater, where he was a graduate scholarship student. For the many years that I have known him, Mr. Daris has always shown his great esteem, patience, and dedication to our youth and to betterment of our community. Mr. Speaker, for all of these reasons, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Fred Daris, on his 70th birthday and for his life of accomplishments and dedication to our youth. Thank you, Fred. We all love you.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with joy that I rise to pay tribute to the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade, on its ninth year of celebrating the culture and contributions of the Puerto Rican community to our Nation. The Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade will be held on Sunday in my South Bronx Congressional District. The event is the culmination of a series of activities surrounding Puerto Rican Week in the Bronx. Under the leadership of its founder, Mr. Angel L. Rosario, and its president, Mr. Francisco Gonzalez, the parade has grown into one of the most colorful and important festivals of Puerto Rican culture in all five boroughs of New York City and beyond. The parade brings together people from all ethnic backgrounds, including Puerto Ricans from the island and all across the Nation. It is an honor for me to join once again the thousands of people who with pride will march along the Grand Concourse in celebration of our Puerto Rican heritage. The Puerto Rican flag and other ornaments in the flag's red, white, and blue will gracefully decorate the festival. The parade ends at Joyce Kilmer Park, where live music, Puerto Rican food, crafts, and other entertainments await partakers. It is expected that this year's parade will surpass last year's half-million visitors. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade on its ninth year of strengthening ties and bringing joy to the South Bronx community.

Mr. SERRANO

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