Hilda Solis

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize the numerous contributions of Mr. Raul Vargas of the University of Southern California (USC). For more than three decades, Mr. Vargas has pioneered higher education accessibility for minority students in southern California and throughout America. A graduate of prestigious universities, including the University of Southern California, former Army veteran and life-long educator, Mr. Vargas is one of the nine founding members of the Mexican American Alumni Association (MAAA) at USC. Under his leadership, the MAAA and its supporters have provided unprecedented financial assistance to Latino students entering USC since 1974. Totaling over $10 million, the MAAA has awarded nearly 6,000 scholarships to outstanding Latino undergraduate and graduate students. For this reason, the MAAA is currently the largest and most prestigious Hispanic alumni association in the nation. Since its inception in 1974, the MAAA has raised a major portion of its scholarship money from its Annual Scholarship Dinner in February and its Scholarship Golf Classic Tournament in June. The Scholarship Dinner, the elder of the two events, draws hundreds of USC alumni, donors, and supporters and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Within the last 10 years, the success of the two annual events has helped the USC MAAA's Endowment Fund to now proudly exceed $2 million. Mr. Vargas has been recognized by prominent institutions and organizations. He was named Hispanic of the Year by the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund; won the Spirit of Education Award by the American Diabetes Association; and earned the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Mr. Raul Vargas currently ranks among the top leaders in higher education. Above all, he exemplifies the excellence in American leadership today.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 24 on H.R. 3783, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 23 on H.R. 743, the Social Security Protection Act, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, each week, over 90,000 workers are losing their unemployment benefits. Many of these workers are from my district in East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, where unemployment remains as high as 10 percent in some areas. Without a paycheck and without jobless benefits, these workers are struggling to put food on the table. They're looking for jobs, but the jobs aren't there. Only 1,000 new jobs were created nationwide in December, well below the 300,000 that President Bush had promised his tax cuts would create. The number of unemployed and without jobless benefits doesn't even include the more than 70,000 grocery workers in Southern California that have been out of work since a labor dispute erupted there more than 4 months ago. These workers are fighting to maintain affordable health care and fair wages. Without a paycheck and without jobless benefits, they, like the long-term unemployed, are struggling to make ends meet. It's an outrage that Congress left town last December without extending unemployment benefits. Let's not repeat this mistake. Extend unemployment benefits and support the Miller Amendment.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize State Senator John L. Burton of California. A bellwether in American politics, Senator Burton authored policy at the state and federal levels for 30 years. Prior to being elected to the California State Senate in 1996, Senator Burton served as a Member of Congress from 1974 to 1983. Elected President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate in 1998, he proudly represents the 3rd Senatorial District, encompassing the City of San Francisco and other Bay Area counties. He also serves as Chair of the Rules Committee and is a member of other powerful panels such as the Appropriations, Constitutional Amendments, Public Safety, and Revenue and Taxation Committees. Under his leadership, Senator Burton has improved the lives of millions of Californians by authoring legislation that ranges from education to health care. He has made college accessible for thousands of low-income students, by guaranteeing Cal Grant scholarships of $9,700 for students who meet the GPA requirements. In the first state budget enacted during his time as President Pro Tempore, he revived cost of living adjustments and increased benefits for the elderly, disabled, and welfare-dependent mothers. In the latest budget, he ensured that mental health services and juvenile crime prevention programs receive high levels of financial support. In addition, Senator Burton has spearheaded legislation that allows the use of DNA testing to improve criminal investigations, strengthen child support collection and reform the campaign monetary system. During his illustrious political career, Senator Burton has received numerous honors by eminent organizations and institutions. Some of his past recognitions include: Legislator of the Year by the California Association of Mental Health Patients' Rights Advocates, the California State University Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Sean McBride Award for Human Rights Work. Well into his seventies, Senator John L. Burton continues to work hard for the people of California. He is a tireless and relentless leader, who I believe exemplifies the excellence in leadership today.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my special order out of order.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise in great disagreement with the funding priorities set forth by our President that was just unveiled a few days ago in his 2005 budget. Over and over again we hear that President Bush wants to create jobs, protect our environment, and help the uninsured and make our Nation a safer place for future generations. However, the President has raised or released a budget with the record deficit of $521 billion that is, in my opinion, one of the most anti-worker, anti-health care, and anti-environmental proposals in modern times. When the President took office it was the first time in 70 years that a President had a surplus, a surplus of $5.6 trillion. For the third year in a row, this administration has proposed more oversize tax cuts that just drive the budget further into the red and do nothing to bolster the priorities of the American public. We need more jobs. We need better access to health care. We need more funding for education and more environmental protections. And most of all, we need a commitment by this administration to make these priorities. Let us look at the reality facing our American families. Since President Bush took office, the economy is down 2.9 million private sector jobs; 2.9 million jobs lost. And I am referring to a chart here, unemployment rates in my own district. When I look at the cities that I represent, for example, the city of El Monte, we are still upwards of 7.9 percent in unemployment. In the area of east Los Angeles, where a large number of Hispanics live, we are almost up to 10 percent. It has been there stagnating for almost 3 years. It has not changed the course that the President would like us all to believe that somehow the economy is recovering; 90,000 workers a week are running out of unemployment benefits with no jobs in sight because the Bush economy is creating only one job for every three people that are unemployed. Yet we continually hear promises that the tax cuts will create jobs. Workers need more economic security, not tax cuts. And workers in small businesses, particularly in districts like mine who thrive and are the ones that are actually making a better life for us in our country, are having to face a 10 percent budget cut in the Small Business Administration. And since the year 2001, 2.4 million more Americans have lost their health care. Again, we have heard the President prioritize health care for all Americans. However, creating a refundable tax credit to purchase health insurance does not ensure affordable insurance for individuals who are older and who have poorer health care. We are in the midst of a health care crisis, and the proposed tax care credit would only help 5 percent of the 44 million that are currently uninsured in this country. The low-income families in my district do not want to hear false promises. They need to know that the programs they depend on, like Medicaid, are being supported and protected. We cannot ignore once again budget cuts, for example, that are being thwarted right now or lashed against; the Environmental Protection Agency will cut about 7 percent of their budget. We hear this administration telling us, we protect the environment; we are really doing all of these things because we want to have a safer environment, safer drinking water and cleaner air. But the majority of the funding that is being taken away at this time will, in fact, not protect our environment or public health. We cannot make these kinds of trade-offs that we are hearing about. We cannot increase Superfund funding at the mercy of clean-water funding. We cannot steal from Peter to pay Paul. And the budget that the Bush administration is proposing cuts funding for leaking underground storage tank clean-up which is very critical in my district because you see blighted areas right now, you see gas stations that are abandoned. There are about 150 of these tanks in my district. They release toxic chemicals in our soil and in our water supply. Our communities deserve clean air, land and water, and our children's health depends upon it. We cannot afford to ignore this. The Department of Homeland Security might have received an overall 5 percent increase, according to this administration, but the President proposed cuts in grants to local fire, police, and emergency medical agencies which will result in about 18 percent cuts overall, first responders, public safety grant cuts by 18 percent from $4.4 billion to $3.6 billion. So who is really taking care of the homeland? In my district, police departments are already feeling a tremendous strain, and many police departments are already proposing massive layoffs. In fact, one of the best programs that I can tell you about in my district is known as a community-oriented police service program, the COPS program, which is one of the very basic programs that helps provide the local cop on the beat. That is now being penciled out. Our first responders must provide critical lifesaving services. I can go on and on, but the fact of the matter is we are talking about cuts in jobs and in education.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to commend the work of the San Gabriel Valley National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the city of West Covina for their 5th annual commemoration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was a visionary leader who believed and dreamed of a color- blind society in America--a place where interracial and intercultural cooperation triumphs over hatred and ignorance. He helped awaken our nation's conscience of the racial injustice directed toward millions of Americans and reaffirmed our most cherished principle--the principle that all men and women are created equal. During the 1960s, a time of great unrest, Dr. King emphasized the importance of using nonviolence to achieve social and political advancement for all people. Dr. King understood that the means of achieving your goal was as important as the goal you were trying to achieve. Although we have made great strides toward achieving greater equality and opportunity for all since his death, we as a nation and as a people are still struggling to fulfill his dream, and we must do more. According to Coretta Scott King, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is not only a celebration of a man who brought hope and healing to America, but it is, above all, a day of service. In honor of Dr. King, let us remember to help the less fortunate, to fight against injustice, and live up to the principle of our great country. I commend the work of the San Gabriel Valley NAACP and the city of West Covina for organizing the 5th annual celebration to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Events like these remind us that Dr. King's fight is our fight, his dream is our dream, and that one day we will ``judge a person by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.'' Let us keep his memory alive through our actions and deeds.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, tonight when President Bush begins to talk about the state of the Union, I hope that he includes remarks that will address the plight of the people that I represent in my district. On the economy, the President will probably talk about how our country is coming out of a recession, and in some parts of my district the recession has been there for 3 years. In fact, in at least two areas I represent, in East Los Angeles, the unemployment rate is still above 9 percent. In the city of South El Monte, neighboring the community I live by, which is about 70 percent Latino, I would say the recession has not gone home. It is there. It is 9 percent. Over 60,000 Californians in my State have exhausted their Federal unemployment benefits and another 340,000 Californians will lose those benefits in the next 4 months alone. Long-term unemployment is at a 20- year high. President Bush claimed that the $330 billion so-called jobs through tax cuts would help create 5.5 million new jobs by the end of 2004 or 306,000 a month. The thousand jobs added to the economy in December left the Nation 305,000 short of the Bush job promise in that month alone. Grocery workers in the State of California, 70,000, are right now on strike. They have no employment and no unemployment insurance, these families that we are talking about, not just people that have somehow disregarded their employment status. Many are women with children who are faced with having to go to food lines and go seeking other types of assistance because our State will not even provide them with unemployment insurance. The grocery strike is a part of a larger debate on health care and wages going on in this country; and these workers, and workers around the country, are fighting for fair and livable wages and for health care benefits that will allow them to ensure health care for their families. On homeland security, at a time when we are susceptible to being attacked now more than ever, we are seeing more cutbacks in our local government enforcement of law enforcement and firefighters. In my district, people are telling me that they no longer have the support to continue to work overtime. And every time that red alert or orange alert goes on, there is a lack of money, of sufficient funds to provide for the kind of coverage that we all believe that we should have. In health care, the President's Medicaid block grant proposal jeopardizes the future of the Medicaid program for millions and millions of low-income families and children. At a time when States like California are facing growing budget deficits, Medicaid reform proposals must focus on strengthening health care coverage and the safety net for our Nation's most vulnerable. Block granting Medicaid will force States to ration care by limiting the number of people who can enroll in those programs. It will reduce services and will increase the amount of money that low-income people must pay. Medicaid provides health coverage to one in six Americans, more than one-fifth of the Nation's children and their future must be the responsibility of this government. With respect to racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S., they continue to suffer poor health care. Their outcomes are not good. In fact, the risk for type II diabetes among Latinos is almost twice that for non-Latinos. Eliminating these disparities requires a commitment on the part of the Federal Government to ensure that the needs of minority communities are being heard. On education, how can schools, teachers and students be expected to meet the high standards of the No Child Left Behind Act when the President refuses to fully fund this initiative? At a time when in my home State of California, the education budget is threatened by a cut of $2 billion, it is unfair to place this additional burden upon our children and our parents in California. On the environment, Republicans continue to protect the wealthy corporate interests and bend over backwards to manipulate our environmental regulations to profit their allies. The health of our children and families is threatened. We should not sacrifice clean air, clean water, our most precious natural resources, and, most importantly, the health of our families. With respect to Iraq and our veterans, the capture of Saddam Hussein was a great victory for our troops. However, we have a lot more to do. The war is not over. Our real enemy has not been captured. For example, over 500 soldiers have been killed in Iraq, with 372 of them since the President declared the end of major combat in Iraq. At this time of conflict we are reminded every day that our soldiers' sacrifices should not be taken in vain. Although we have lost a significant number of soldiers, a lot more, approximately 2,900, have been wounded in combat or disabled. Furthermore, these numbers mask the true impact of our wounded and fallen soldiers. We need to do more. President Bush must encourage the Republican Party to keep their promise to our troops and to our country.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. Last year, President Bush and the Republican Congress refused to extend unemployment insurance before it expired, leaving millions out in the cold. This year, they are, again, showing little interest in providing relief to those searching for jobs. To me, that is wrong. Despite modest gains in the economy, the job market remains abysmal. Over 1.1 million Californians remain out of work, looking for jobs. Long-term unemployment last month was the highest in 20 years, with over 20 percent of those without jobs looking for work for more than 6 months. This is especially true in my district where unemployment rates remain very high. In East Los Angeles, the area that I represent, the unemployment rate is well over 10.7 percent, and in the year 2001 it was 8.3, so it has gone up. In the city that I live in, in El Monte, it was at 6.7 in the year 2001. Now, it is at 8.7. It has not gone down. While the President hails the recent uptick in the economic figures, he fails to mention the unemployment among Latinos and other minorities which continues to rise. Let us leave no family behind and provide unemployment insurance benefits for all.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce this bipartisan resolution with my colleagues Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Ramstad, Mr. Rodriguez, and Ms. Capito. We are deeply concerned about the murders and violence against women that has occurred in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Since 1993 over 300 women have disappeared from this area. Oftentimes their mutilated bodies are found in the abandoned or desert areas. This resolution expresses our sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of the victims, and encourages increased U.S. involvement in bringing an end to these heinous crimes that for the most part have gone unsolved.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Sergeant First Class Kelly M. Bolor, 137th Quartermaster Company, United States Army Reserve, located in South El Monte, California. This brave and compassionate man dedicated his life to protecting our country and the freedoms that we all enjoy. On November 15, 2003, Sergeant First Class Kelly Bolor made the ultimate sacrifice and was killed while serving our country during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant First Class Kelly Bolor was born December 20, 1965, and raised in Hawaii with his twin brother. He graduated from Lahainaluna High School in June 1984. Shortly after graduating Sergeant First Class Bolor enlisted in the United States Army, beginning an almost 20 year military career. In 1984, Sergeant First Class Bolor graduated from a 92Y Supply Specialist course from Fort Jackson. Subsequently, in 1986, he completed Fort Benning Airborne School. On March 1, 1998, Sergeant Bolor joined the United States Army Reserve. He rose to the rank of Platoon Sergeant for the 137th Quartermaster Company on January 10, 2002. Sergeant First Class Bolor is a Desert Storm veteran, and served overseas duty in Fort Wainwright, Alaska in 1988, Southwest Asia in 1991, Camp Humphrey's Korea in 1993 and finally Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Sergeant First Class Kelly M. Bolor served our country as a true patriot and defender of democracy. He leaves behind widow Kelly Bolor and son Kyle, age three. Let us preserve the memory of Kelly M. Bolor so that his son may learn about his father, who was a kind-hearted man who put the safety and well-being of his country and fellow soldiers first.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize December 1, 2003, as World AIDS Day. On this day, many around the globe will celebrate the progress made in the battle against AIDS while raising awareness to the challenges that remain. Worldwide, an estimated 42 million people are living with the disease; 11.8 million are young people aged 15 to 24. Furthermore, more than half of those newly infected with HIV are between 15 and 24 years old--six thousand new infections each day, or 4 every minute. In Latin America, in 2001, approximately 130,000 adults and children were infected with HIV and 80,000 died of AIDS. Unfortunately, young people and women are becoming increasingly vulnerable. As we recognize World AIDS Day and celebrate the successes achieved, let us remember that our young people are at the center of this global crisis. They are our greatest hope in fighting this deadly disease and we should do all we can to deliver effective treatments and prevent new infections.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, in 1965, Congress created Medicare and promised seniors that after a lifetime of working and paying into the system they would have access to health care coverage during their retirement years, regardless of where they live, their age or their income. Thirty-eight years later, instead of honoring our commitment to affordable, accessible health care for all seniors, Congress is set to create a prescription drug benefit program that will destroy Medicare as we know it and turn it over to the unreliable for-profit insurance industry. A Medicare prescription drug bill should use the purchasing power of our nation's seniors to negotiate lower prescription drug costs, just as we do for veterans now, and it should provide assistance to low- income seniors who need extra help in their retirement years. Our hard working seniors and their families expect a high quality, affordable, universal and guaranteed prescription drug benefit within their trusted Medicare program. Unfortunately, the Republican plan dismantles Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher system with private HMOs competing with the traditional Medicare system. Under this system, seniors who want to stay with the traditional Medicare system they trust would face premiums that could vary dramatically across the nation. Premiums for traditional Medicare in the Los Angeles area could be as much as $1,700 per year--119% more than seniors in other parts of California. This bill is especially troubling for retirees who have health benefits through a former employer. I have received dozens of calls and letters from retirees concerned about the Medicare proposal's impact on the prescription drug coverage they have through a former employer. Well, under the Republican bill an estimated 244,860 Medicare beneficiaries in California will lose their retiree health benefits because the bill does not sufficiently stem the tide of employers reducing or dropping their retiree health coverage. Nearly 6,000 seniors in my district are living below the poverty level, so I am especially troubled about what this bill will mean for low-income seniors struggling to pay for the medicines they need. The bill will increase drug costs for six million elderly and disabled Medicaid beneficiaries by imposing co-payments on their prescription drugs and prohibiting Medicaid from filling in the gaps of the new Medicare benefit. It is shameful that this bill would harm our most vulnerable seniors. The supporters of this bill talk about the funding it provides for disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to hospitals that serve a high number of indigent patients and for improved Medicare payments to physicians. I have a strong record of supporting DSH funding, which is critical to protecting California's safety not hospitals. I have also long supported fixing the flaws in the Medicare physician payment system in order to help doctors who serve elderly patients, and recently voted to increase physician payments. It is important to note that the Democratic Medicare prescription drug proposal would have done substantially more to help doctors and hospitals than the bill before us today. I would like to take a moment to comment on AARP's endorsement of the bill. AARP claims to represent the needs of seniors throughout the country, but I can tell you that the seniors I represent are upset that AARP has chosen to endorse this wrong-headed bill that doesn't even meet the criteria they set back in July. I encourage seniors to continue to contact their lawmakers and let them know their views on this Medicare bill. Let's be clear--the endeavor to make prescription drugs more accessible for seniors began as a bipartisan effort to modernize Medicare for our new era. Now it has turned into a fight for the soul of Medicare. I am tremendously disappointed that my Republican colleagues have chosen to reward the private insurance companies and big pharmaceutical industry at the expense of seniors. However, I will continue my efforts to ensure that seniors have access to the medicines they need.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Pido permiso para revisar y decir estas palabras. Sr. Orador, estoy en contra del proyecto de ley Medicare que no ayudara a las mujeres que son el 70 por ciento de los mayores de edad. (English translation of the above statement is as follows:) Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this Medicare bill which does nothing to help women, who make up more than 70 percent of the elderly poor.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Reginald Arthur Stone who passed away on November 12th at the age of 67. Mr. Stone was a loving husband to his wife Judy, the father of two and the grandfather of five. In addition to being a community leader, Mr. Stone was known as a person who could create compromise out of chaos. Reginald ``Reg'' Stone was the longtime chairman of the Main San Gabriel Basin Water Master Board of Directors, where he was a key figure in negotiations that led to a $250 million cleanup agreement with industrial companies that polluted the area's groundwater. Because of his gentle, yet determined efforts, thousands of homes will have cleaner water and the health of working families will be improved. In addition to serving on the Main San Gabriel Basin Water Master Board of Directors, he worked for 43 years at Suburban Water Systems. Starting off as a meter reader, Mr. Stone rose to senior Vice President at the time of his death. More importantly than his title, however, is that he is remembered as a person who was liked and appreciated by all and was able to bring even the most adversarial people together with the belief that you should start to negotiate from common ground. Reg Stone will be missed by all who knew him and our prayers are with his family during this time of mourning.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rollback the Clean Water Act. Several days ago, in the Los Angeles Times and other newspapers, an internal EPA memo was quoted saying that the EPA is preparing a rule that would eliminate Clean Water Act protections for, ``Streams that flow for less than six months a year . . .'' State and federal officials have estimated that up to 20 million acres of wetlands would be lost. This preliminary rule would devastate the Southwest where many streams flow only seasonally or after rain or snowmelts. In Los Angeles County, our rivers are often only a trickle, since our community gets an average of 15 inches of rainfall a year. And we are not alone. Interior Secretary Gale Norton notes that, ``The American West is facing a serious crisis. In the long run, we will not have enough water to meet the fast-growing needs of city residents, farmers, ranchers, Native Americans, and wildlife. The demand is increasing; the supply is not.'' Unfortunately, the EPA must have not gotten that memo because if our limited water supply is jeopardized, no one's needs will be met. I encourage the Bush Administration to throw this rule draft away and start fresh with guidelines that will protect our water supplies so that our families are not left out to dry.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of November as National Diabetes Awareness Month. An estimated 18.2 million people in the U.S., or 6.3 percent of the population have diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, 5.2 million do not even realize they are diabetics. The American Diabetes Association estimates the economic cost of diabetes in the U.S. in 2002 was $132 billion, or one out of every 10 health care dollars spent. Diabetes is the number one disease-related cause of death in Los Angeles County. In California, more than 1.4 million California adults and 12,000 adolescents have been diagnosed with diabetes. Among adults ages 50-64, diabetes prevalence was significantly higher among African Americans (20.5 percent) and Latinos (17.9 percent) than whites (8.3 percent). Additionally, 176,000 adolescents not diagnosed with diabetes were at risk because they did not participate in regular physical activity and were overweight or at risk for being overweight. I have been active in the efforts to combat diabetes because I know the burdens it imposes on people and their families. I am a cosponsor of the Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act (H.R. 1916) which directs the National Institutes of Health to support research with respect to pre-diabetes and diabetes, particularly type II diabetes. This important legislation will help all Americans by providing much- needed diabetes prevention and outreach. Although diabetes is an epidemic that is widespread, complicated, and severe, it can be controlled. Taking small steps like healthy diets and physical activity can lead to big rewards. Diabetes is a disease that permeates our communities, families, and friendships and we must do all that we can to stop the spread of this deadly disease.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the courage of fire fighters from Los Angeles County Fire Department. Firefighters in my community, from the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, Claremont, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, Rosemead, San Dimas, South El Monte, Temple and Unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, fought the fires and saved the lives and homes of countless people. Had it not been for the rapid response and bravery of firefighters, the loss of life, the damage to residents, housing, and commercial property would have been much worse. I am hopeful that if we learn one lesson from this horrible disaster, it will be that more financial resources need to go towards helping fire departments protect people. According to the Forest Service, more than 90 percent of wild land fires are the result of human activity, and fires are almost twice as likely to start near roads than in the wilderness. Even though they are adjacent to some of America's largest communities, Southern California forests only receive a fraction of the money they need to manage fire every year. Last year, Southern California forests received only $4 million out of the $53 million spent on California fire reduction--a mere 8 percent of the fire funding distributed to California's National Forests. The Southern California fires demonstrate that the federal government must spend its fire management dollars near communities. Firefighters should not be put in harms way when we can prevent future tragedies by making communities near forest areas. Our Nation is blessed with brave men and women who protect our homeland from every potential danger and the risk of their own safety to demonstrate their commitment to the state of California. They are true American heroes and I thank them on behalf of my constituents.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge a tremendous achievement in the efforts to address racial and ethnic health disparities in this country. With the dedication of the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), and with the guiding leadership of our leadership, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), as well as our Senate leaders, Senator Daschle and Senator Kennedy, we have introduced a comprehensive bill to improve minority health. Currently in our country, minorities endure a disproportionate burden of illnesses. Unfortunately, our health care system is not meeting the needs of all of its people. Latinos, African Americans, Asians and Native Americans statistically outweigh nonminority whites in almost every disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, you name it. For instance, diabetes is a chronic illness estimated to affect 18.2 million people in this year alone. Latinos are twice as likely to have diabetes than non-Latino whites and American Indians are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with this debilitating disease. Mr. Speaker, these diabetes trends are not isolated. One in four obese Latino children have early signs of type II diabetes; and in California alone, 66 percent of Latinos are overweight, which is higher than the national average. Compound these health problems with the recently released census data showing that the rate of Latinos with health insurance was 32.4 percent in 2002. Here on this graph, it shows actually who the nonelderly noninsured are, including the ethnic and racial groups in the year 2002. Hispanics represent 30 percent; non-Hispanics represent 47 percent; Asian Pacific Islanders, 5 percent; and blacks represent 16 percent. This is a picture of those people who are working-poor that are uninsured. The need for prevention is loud and clear, and we have to actively stop these rising trends in poor health care status. The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act that we introduced addresses these problem through inclusive and federally funded programs like Medicare and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, better known in California as Healthy Families. Mr. Speaker, the bill will expand health insurance options through Medicaid to cover parents and pregnant women, young people up to the age of 20, which would help address the issues here outlined in the chart. It also gives the States the option to cover every resident living in poverty under Medicaid. Another triumph in the bill is expansion of access to services by assisting health care professionals provide cultural and language services. Mr. Speaker, I would ask for our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to adopt this legislation that we have put forward through the Tri-Caucus to help end the disparities and treatment of those that are still in our country that do not have any adequate health care. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge a tremendous achievement in the efforts to address racial and ethnic health disparities in this country. With the dedication of my good friends Representative Donna Christensen, Representatives Mike Honda, Representatives Frank Pallone and the guiding leadership of Representatives Nancy Pelosi as well as our Senate leaders, especially Senators Daschle and Kennedy, we have introduced a comprehensive bill to improve minority health. Currently in our country, minorities endure a disproportionate burden of illness. The community I represent is multicultural--about 60 percent of the residents are Latino and 20 percent are Asian American, and 40 percent of my constituents were born outside of the United States. Unfortunately, our health care system is not meeting the needs of all people. Latinos, African Americans, Asians, and Native Americans statistically outweigh non-minority whites in almost every disease-- diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, you name it! For instance, diabetes is a chronic illness that is estimated to affect 18.2 million people in 2003. However, Latinos are twice as likely to have diabetes than non-Latino whites and American Indians are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with this debilitating disease. But these diabetes trends are not isolated; over 1 in 4 obese Latino children have early signs of type II diabetes. In California, 66 percent of Latinos are overweight, which is higher than the national average, and the highest percentage of any minority group. Compound these health problems with the recently released Census data showing that the rate of Latinos without health insurance was 3.4 percent 2002. Plus, over 87 percent of these uninsured are from working families. That means one in three hard-working, tax-paying individuals in this country lack access to what is supposed to be the ``best'' health care system in the world. The need for prevention is loud and clear--we have to actively stop these rising trends in poor health status, especially when our children are at risk. The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act addresses these problems through inclusive and guaranteed expansions in federally funded health programs, like Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. This bill will expand health insurance options through Medicaid to cover parents and pregnant women, and young people up to age 20. It also gives states the option to cover every resident living in poverty under Medicaid. And it guarantees funding for the Indian Health Service, bringing much-needed health care to this overlooked population. Another major triumph of this bill is the expansion of access to services by assisting health care professionals provide cultural and language services, and increasing federal reimbursement for these services. There are over 47 million people, or 18 percent of the US population, that speak a language other than English at home. Over one in three Latinos report difficulty in understanding a medical situation when it is not explained to them in their own language. In places like my district that have such a high proportion of limited English proficient individuals, language barriers can mean the difference between health and illness, and even life and death. Over the summer, the Minority Caucuses in the House convened a Tri- Caucus Health Forum in Los Angeles to discuss racial and ethnic health disparities. It was expressed over and over again by community members, researchers and advocates that our public health infrastructure is failing our minority communities. Without assuring access to culturally and linguistically appropriate public health programs, without monitoring and collecting data on racial and ethnic minorities, and without strengthening our health professional workforce and institutions, our minority families will continue to endure health disparities. What we have on our hands is an American public health dilemma that requires a responsible public health approach. At a time when public health reforms, like the revision of Medicare, are sweeping through Congress, our minority communities are at the mercy of an unpredictable and untrustworthy public health system that ignores their health needs. Instead of creating a sound, guaranteed prescription drug benefit for our seniors, the current Medicare proposal does nothing to reduce the cost of health care. The only thing the Republican Medicare bill will do is overwhelmingly burden our low-income seniors and minority communities. We must enact responsible legislation that improves the health of minority communities, that recognizes specific minority health needs, and works to prevent disease rates from climbing in our minority communities. Let's use our Minority Health bill as a model of how we can actively eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities in our communities nationwide.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the conference report on H.R. 6, the National Energy Policy Act, on behalf of America's taxpayers who will now have to shoulder the financial burden of cleaning up corporate pollution. In the past, our nation's environmental laws have been based on the principle that polluters would pay to clean up their messes. Today, that principle changes from ``polluters pay'' to ``polluters get paid''. Mr. Speaker, under this bill, over the next 10 years, the American taxpayers will dole out $23.5 billion in tax breaks for the oil and gas industry. In addition, taxpayers will pay $6.9 billion in higher gas prices because this bill mandates that we put ethanol in our gasoline. Polluters will be able to access federal funds to clean up their leaking underground storage tanks--money that they don't have to pay back. And consumers will pay higher electricity prices because basic consumer protections have been repealed with the end of the Public Utilities Holding Company Act (PUHCA). The people who will suffer the greatest consequences of these blatantly irresponsible regulations will be the poorest of our society. These families will be forced to pay more at the gas pump and higher utility bills. As people who are more likely to live and work near a polluting industry, they will breathe dirtier air and drink unsafe water. This bill will perpetuate poverty as we reward industries that are environmental failures while neglecting to prepare an energy policy that will help future generations. What do we get in return for this egregious bill? Unfortunately, at the end of the day there is little that will alleviate the problems that are so obvious in this bill. It will not reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It will not create jobs. It will not invest in science that will give us energy technologies for the future. The Energy Policy Act before us is anti-environmental, anti-health, anti-consumer, anti-science and anti-jobs. An energy policy needs to make sure that our original principles are in place and make sure that polluters are paying, not getting paid. If we start with this principle, we can create an energy policy that not only is good for our country's future, but also for the future of working families.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a long time member of the United Farm Workers, Richard Rodriguez. Richard passed away this past Sunday, November 2, 2003. Born on February 3, 1930, Richard was a life long resident of Los Angeles, California. He married his sweetheart, Esther Aguilar, on June 30, 1950. Together, they raised five children, nine grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren. A loyal supporter of the labor movement, Richard retired from Teamsters Local 357 in 1996. However, his commitment to improving the lives of working families did not cease. With his wife Esther at his side, Richard continued to actively participate as a proud member of the United Farm Workers (UFW), participating in rallies in Watsonville, Sacramento, and Yuma, California. During pilgrimages, he took it upon himself to provide meals, motivation and leadership. Richard also displayed great talent in creating many banners and flags to spread Cesar Chavez's message of workers' rights. His public service went beyond the labor movement. He was a long time community activist who provided gift baskets each Christmas to the less fortunate of Monterey Park and other surrounding communities. Throughout his life, Richard wore his Teamsters jacket and carried his red UFW banner with enormous pride. He represented the very best that the labor movement and our community has to offer. We will forever remember his dedication to others. His death is a great loss, but we were so fortunate to have known this great citizen.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and honor the courageous men and women that have served our country. It has been over 2 years since our great Nation was attacked on September 11, 2001. That day, and every day since, we are reminded that our freedoms are protected by the men and women in the United States Armed Forces. These individuals have given their sweat, blood and sometimes their lives to protect our freedoms. Today, American servicemen and women from the mountains of Tora Bora to the deserts of Iraq are, once again, in harm's way protecting and defending our freedoms all over the globe. I am standing before Members today with a deeply felt sense of gratitude and pride that these men and women in uniform are defending our Nation. In 2002, there were 25.6 million living veterans, and over the course of this country's history, more than 12 million servicemen have sacrificed their lives to defend our freedoms. I want to take a moment to highlight the Latinos and other minorities that have contributed to the peace we have enjoyed for so many years in our country. According to the latest U.S. Census figures, there are 1.3 million living Latino veterans, with more than half residing in California, Texas and Puerto Rico. Many have fought and defended the United States during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the first Gulf War, and now in Iraq. There are 41 Latinos that have received the highest Congressional Medal of Honor award, 11 were awarded for their bravery during World War II, a war in which as many as 500,000 Latino soldiers fought bravely for the U.S. We honor our Nation's veterans, we must honor our brave men and women who are currently serving in Iraq, and as of today, 382 members of our U.S. troops have lost their lives. In particular, two of my constituents have lost their lives. One is Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores, and I display his photo, and Private First Class Jose Casanova, Jr., and I want to tell my colleagues about these fine young men. Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores was not just a brave and self-sacrificing Marine, but he was a loving son, a brother, a friend, and someone who lived in my district who was outgoing and was the eldest of his four siblings who immigrated to this country at a young age. He was not even a U.S. citizen. He was one of the first soldiers killed in Iraq. He was granted citizenship posthumously. That is great that we can do that, but we have so many other soldiers like him who are serving our country who are not being granted the opportunity to become citizens. They are not asking for U.S. citizenship when they sign up, they are asking to be there to support us and defend our country. I am asking Members of Congress to help appeal to the Senate and to this administration to grant the opportunity for over 37,000 U.S. soldiers just like this young man here who died and gave his life, and many others that are currently there in the line of battle protecting us, asking you to support them to have citizenship within a 2-year process. Instead of 3, 2 years, to grant them the opportunity if they have siblings or a wife or spouse, to also have an opportunity to become fully-fledged participants in our society. We do not ask our own kids to go to war, but we ask folks who represent us in our districts. We should do something for them as well, especially as Veterans Day nears, that we pay are tribute and honor to these young men and women, who all they want to do is look for a better life in our country, who look for a future, to become law enforcement officers, custodians, teachers, and government officials, but their lives are cut short defending us in the line of duty, something that they took as an oath of office to serve and defend our country. Let us remind ourselves of those many soldiers serving us now. I urge the Senate and other Members of Congress to support legislation to give citizenship to legal permanent residents.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Joseph DiShanni, Founder, Executive Director and Director Emeritus of the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce, who passed away on October 21, 2003. Mr. DiShanni received many awards, acclamations, and special recognitions throughout his career in acknowledgement of his tireless commitment to his community. He is most revered for his accomplishments in industrial and business development for the City of Irwindale and the San Gabriel Valley. He was affectionately known as ``Mr. Irwindale,'' In addition to his service to the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce, he served on the Los Angeles County Insurance Commission and as a Traffic Safety Commissioner for Los Angeles County. Born in Wallkill, New York, in 1909, Mr. DiShanni immigrated with his mother and two older sisters to Italy after the death of his father. At the age of 18, he returned to the United States in search of the American Dream. His hard work and dedication to his community made him an inspiration to all who knew him. The Irwindale community, his family and his beloved wife Margaret will miss him dearly. I am pleased and honored to pay tribute to him today.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to recognize one of the most historically rich institutions in the United States. On November 1, 2003, the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of Montebello, California will be celebrating its eighty years of service to the Los Angeles Armenian American community under the auspices of their Prelate, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian. This historic occasion for the Holy Cross Cathedral is a culmination of leadership, dedication, commitment, and community work. Since its erection in 1922, Holy Cross is the second oldest Armenian Cathedral in the state of California and the oldest in Los Angeles County. For eighty years, Holy Cross has touched the lives of millions of churchgoers and other religious individuals looking for spiritual fulfillment. In addition, it has given positive direction to Armenian children and adolescents through their exceptional Mesrobian school system. Additionally, Holy Cross's leadership has paved the way for other Armenian Apostolic churches throughout Southern California. Inspired by Holy Cross, over seven churches and congregations have been established. I am happy to note that all of them serve their congregations, youth, community, and country with all their love and energy. I am proud to say that the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral exemplifies the greatness in our nation's religious and community institutions.