Hilda Solis

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Lalo Alcaraz, a leader and political activist in the Latino community who exemplifies the best in American journalism today. For almost 10 years, Mr. Alcaraz has touched the lives of millions of newspaper and magazine readers here in the U.S. and in Mexico. Born in San Diego, CA, in 1964, he grew up near the U.S.-Mexico border with his Mexican immigrant parents--each day sharing two different cultures. He began his journalism career as student at San Diego State University by drawing politically and culturally driven editorial cartoons for the university newspaper. As he gained notoriety among readers across campus, Alcaraz also grabbed the attention of top publishing media syndicates in southern California. An award winning editorial cartoonist, screenwriter, and journalist, Alcaraz continues to entertain his readers today by skillfully capturing the essence of our country's changing cultural and political landscape. He is the creator of nationally syndicated and hardhitting editorial cartoons that depict pressing issues affecting the Latino community. Published in English and Spanish in publications such as the New York and Los Angeles Times, La Opinion, and Hispanic Magazine, his cartoons include the Latino-themed daily strip La Cucaracha, and Migra Mouse, a satire on Latinos and immigration. Alcaraz is also the co- editor of the satirical magazine Pocho and he is the illustrator of the book Latino USA: A Cartoon History. Throughout his illustrious career, Alcaraz has been honored and recognized for his exceptional journalistic work. He has received four Southern California Journalism Awards for Best Cartoon in Weekly Papers between 1994-1999. He is also the 1998 winner of the Los Angeles Hispanic Public Relations Association's Premio Award for Excellence in Communications; the 2000 Rockefeller Foundation Multi-Media Fellowship; the 2003 Center for the Study of Political Graphics and the Keep On Crossin' Awards; and, most recently, the 2004 Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace Award. Lalo Alcaraz is a loving husband, father and a devoted member of the Writers Guild Union, West. I commend him for his numerous contributions to the Latino community through his journalism career and political activism.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 139 on H. Res. 600 congratulating charter schools, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 140 on H. Res. 380, recognizing the importance of music education, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 141 on H. Res. 599, congratulating the University of Connecticut Huskies, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to urge my colleagues to support an extension of unemployment benefits. During the first 6 months of 2004, an estimated 83,000 workers in the L.A. and Long Beach metropolitan area will have exhausted their jobless benefits. We hear that jobs are coming, but the anxiety is there. Our workforce is waiting to see where the jobs are. And in my district alone, I represent the San Gabriel Valley, unemployment rates remain high. In East Los Angeles and the city of South El Monte it has remained at over 10 percent for over 3 years. In fact, the national Latino unemployment rate is 7.4 percent, way above the national, 28 percent higher than it was just 3 years ago. And who do we have to thank? This administration. The unemployment rate is especially higher among Latino youth. It is about double. I am urging the President and my colleagues to support these young people and help restore vital funding for job training and to extend unemployment benefits to the 2.9 million unemployed workers in America.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for providing us with the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day. We do have much to celebrate, but we also have to reflect on what is happening here in our country and what policies are having effects in our communities. I appreciate the fact that so many of my colleagues spoke before me very eloquently about the status of the environment here in our country. I am happy to talk a little bit about a place that I represent, and I represent the 32nd Congressional District in Southern California, much viewed by people as probably the armpit of America in many ways. Smog levels are very high. I have ownership of three Super fund sites. There are 17 gravel pits, many that are abandoned. So we have various problems that exist in our district, many challenges, long before I was even born. But that does not mean that we give up the hope to fight to improve those conditions for the people that I represent. And I was very fortunate in the California legislature to work on environmental justice legislation, one of the first pieces of legislation in the entire country to be codified in the State of California. And as a result I believe there are close to 30 States now in this Union that have done likewise and have followed suit. It is unfortunate, however, that this administration here does not believe in the true essence of environmental justice. And what environmental justice means for many Americans and for people that I represent is equal treatment under the law when placing projects in our districts. And, unfortunately, people have had blindfolds on their eyes when they come into our district because they place projects that have negative effects on our health in my district. We have higher rates of asthma than other parts of L.A. County. We have children that cannot go out and play on the playgrounds when the summer heat goes up and the smog levels go up. We have children that have to go to the emergency trauma units because they are suffering from asthmatic attacks, both children and our elderly. We see that our drinking water is also contaminated. For many years there were prior Congressmen, for example, Congressman Torres, who led the way to clean up our basin almost 20 years ago. We still have not found a solution to entirely clean up our local area. Perchloric contaminates our water. That is rocket fuel that was allowed to enter into our water table through Department of Defense contractors. Many have come to the table to try to clean that up, but we have not gone far enough. And just yesterday we had a hearing in the Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding DOD exemptions that this administration would like to see rip away at the protections that we have in our States such as California. I came out strongly opposed to those exemptions as did many attorneys general representing many States as well as many water agencies and purveyors that want to provide clean water to millions and millions of people who live in our country. We need to do the right thing. And I know that I can count on my colleagues here that have spoken this evening to help educate the public that, in fact, there are Members of this Congress who are willing to fight, willing to stay here late, to do the right thing, to make sure that we do not erode the protections that have been in place for the last 50 years. And, as a new Member of Congress, I would like to say that I am proud to represent the district that I come from, East Los Angeles, that many people forget about. People there are experiencing high levels of unemployment. Many of them have low skills, low educational levels; and they live in the dirtiest communities in our country, and it is not fair. That is why we need strong laws. That is why we need adequate funding to protect everybody on an equal and fair basis. And I applaud the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) and all the Members that have come forward tonight to share with us that Earth Day, in fact, should be a celebration for the entire world. In Spanish we say ``para todo el mundo.'' That means the entire world. The entire world is looking at us right now to see that we do the right thing, to see that we address the issues of global warming, water pollution, clean air. Those are the things that my community is advocating for, and I am going to continue to fight for that.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand to recognize the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence Service, 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 232nd Combat Engineer Company, 1399th Engineering Construction Battalion, and the many Japanese American men and women who bravely served our country during World War II. I also would like to recognize the leadership of the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center for organizing the Cherry Blossom Festival in West Covina, CA in honor of Asian American Heritage Month and in honor of the contribution Japanese Americans have made to the United States of America. As the U.S. entered World War II in late 1941, many living during that period, including the government, questioned the loyalty of Japanese Americans to the United States. Sadly, thousands of Japanese Americans were heavily scrutinized and sent to live in confinement at concentration camps throughout the duration of the war. Additionally, the U.S. government would not enlist soldiers of Japanese descent into its military, due to its growing distrust of Japan. It was not until February 1, 1943, that the U.S. reversed its decision on enlisting Japanese Americans to the armed forces, as one of the first Japanese American infantry divisions known as the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was formed. Despite their questioned patriotism, many Japanese Americans proudly demonstrated their loyalty to the U.S. by volunteering to defend their adopted country. As loyal American soldiers, they did everything necessary to assist the United States during the war. Whether it be fighting enemies in war-torn Europe, providing the U.S. military with invaluable human intelligence, or engineering and constructing military bridges with unmatched skill, Japanese Americans helped turn the tide of World War II and helped lead the United States to victory in the mid 1940s. Although not well received by many Americans after the war and sometimes sadly forgotten in today's history books, Japanese Americans serving in World War II should and will always be remembered for their exceptional and invaluable contribution to the well being of our country. As evident in today's Cherry Blossom Festival in West Covina and throughout the nation, these unsung heroes will never be forgotten and will always share a place in American history. They have and will continue to exemplify the excellence in American leadership today.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Latin Business Association (LBA) for its 28 years of performing exceptional work in promoting business growth, advocacy and education for the Latino community. Established in 1976 as a private nonprofit organization, the LBA is the nation's largest Latino business entity with an active membership of 1,200 and overall outreach to Latino business owners. LBA's membership and outreach efforts enable it to fulfill its mission of being the fastest and most effective leader of Latino business opportunities in the market place. In addition, the LBA helps Latino- owned businesses grow by providing business-training workshops and developing effective advocacy programs. More than a leader in the business world, the LBA transcends political, cultural, and language barriers that impact our nation's economic balance. As a result of the LBA's hard work, Latino businesses, executives, and entrepreneurs are not only nationally recognized, but have the opportunity to influence the nation's economic public policy. As the Latino population continues to grow, the development of new corporations and entrepreneurial businesses will jumpstart our economy. I believe the LBA will be at the forefront among strong and influential business organizations offering support and direction to the Latino business community. Tonight's 28th Annual Sol Business Awards Gala is a testament to the emerging significance and influence of the Latino business community. I am proud to recognize the LBA, its Board of Directors, and its members for 28 years of successfully generating business opportunities, providing advocacy, and educating the Latino community for business growth. The LBA has distinguished itself as an exceptional leader in Latino business development and I wish it much longevity and prosperity.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, for over a decade, Women's History Month has celebrated the achievements and accomplishments of women nationwide. The incredible contributions women have made in politics, science, art, and activism, demonstrate some of the revolutionary advancements in American women's rights. Women today follow in the footsteps of pioneers such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul, who fought for women's right to vote in 1920, or Dolores Huerta, a contemporary champion of women's rights. We must continue to create platforms for women's voices and opinions and support a continuing momentum toward women's freedom and equality. During this month and throughout the year, women all across the United States should take a moment to recognize the gains afforded to them through their predecessors' hard work and unwavering commitment to improving the lives and rights for all women. As a Latina, and one of 16 million Latinas nationwide, I recognize some of the unique and continuing societal obstacles for Latinas--like unequal pay, educational disadvantages, unmet health care needs, and civil rights struggles. I am certain, however, that through the work of courageous leaders in our community, our accomplishments and contributions as women of color will continue to grow well into the future. Together, women will continue to make the difference.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize and celebrate the birthday of Cesar E. Chavez. Cesar Chavez, an icon in the Latino community and beyond, would have been 77 today. Cesar Chavez was born near Yuma, Arizona, and grew up in migrant labor camps, into the poverty of a migrant worker's life. He became a historical figure who embodied humility and extraordinary strength in his peaceful struggle towards social justice. He dedicated his life to tirelessly championing the rights of farm laborers and along with Dolores Huerta, founded the United Farm Workers union, fighting for better wages, conditions and respect for farmworkers. I have introduced the Cesar E. Chavez Lands Legacy Act (H.R. 1034) to ensure that Americans can fully understand his life, vision, and impact on improving the lives of millions of Americans. I hope that his legacy and memory will someday become a fundamental piece of American history so that all Americans will understand the fight that Cesar Chavez began in the fields, a fight for social justice, civil rights, and human rights that continues today. Thanks to this fight, the Latino community, including myself, has been able to enjoy certain benefits and privileges that otherwise might not have been possible.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, last week I met with the Esperanza Senior Citizen Club in City Terrace in East Los Angeles to discuss the new Medicare prescription drug law enacted last year. The seniors there had many, many questions. They asked me how the law will affect them and will it provide affordable drugs. Unfortunately, I had to tell them that the law does nothing to lower the cost of prescription drugs. In fact, I told them that it prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from negotiating lower prices. They were star struck. They could not believe that that is what we had passed here in the Congress. In short, the law increases profits for big pharmaceutical companies and fails to protect seniors. The Esperanza Senior Club was shocked when they learned the truth about the new law because they felt that Congress had abandoned them. They told me to go back to Washington and they told me to renegotiate, to open up a discussion on that piece of legislation, because for them and the district that I represent, still they are not able to afford their drugs, their medications; and they want choices. They wanted to know if they were going to have the same physician caring for them in the HMOs.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the distinguished chairperson of the Black Caucus, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), for yielding me this time; and I rise to support the alternative Progressive Caucus and Black Caucus budget that is before us today. The Republican majority refuses to finance priorities that are most important to working families in America. They lack any support for guaranteed health care, jobs, and a clean environment. The House Republican budget will severely damage our Nation's health care system by cutting $2.2 billion over the next 5 years in Medicaid and SCHIP programs; and in my State of California, 6.5 million people will be affected by those cuts. Mr. Chairman, 51 million Americans currently rely on the Medicaid program. While President Bush has been in office, in fact, we have lost over 3 million jobs. In my district alone, we lost 20,000. This Republican budget denies an opportunity to provide jobs, 500,000 new jobs in infrastructure development. And on top of that, they cut back on EPA funding 7 percent across the board. That means dirty water, dirty air, and a dirty environment. This Progressive and Black Caucus budget fully funds Leave No Child Behind, it doubles Federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Hispanic Serving Institutions, it increases Pell grants to college students, and it increases funding for the COPS program, community policing grants. The Republican budget ignores the needs of working families. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Progressive and Black Caucus alternative budget.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise against the Republican budget because it cuts funds for Violence Against Women by $22 million, which is a 5.7 percentage cut below the 2004 budget.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marina Martinez. She was a true leader and an inspirational woman who passed away on March 15, 2004. A community activist in El Sereno, California, Marina Martinez promoted parental involvement and advocated for parental rights to ensure that every child receives a quality education. She began her lifelong commitment to children by volunteering both as a Girl Scout leader and Boy Scout den mother in 1959. Since that time, Marina chaired numerous organizations and provided leadership to many local, State, and Federal organizations. These organizations and positions included the Compensatory Education Advisory in 1972 and the Bilingual Teacher Training Center in 1976. Most notably, she was appointed by the dean of the School of Education to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Bilingual Teacher Training Center. Marina Martinez also served as the council appointee to the Citizens Unit for Participation in Housing and Community Development in 1978 and was a proud member of other long-standing community-based organizations in El Sereno. These organizations included the Mexican-American Education Commission, National Clients Council for the Legal Aid Foundation, the Community Alliance for Education, and the El Sereno Community Coordinating Council. Even with the tragic death of her son Ismael Martinez on December 7, 1980, Marina and her husband, Joe, did not move away from their El Sereno community. On the contrary, they turned their pain into strength and vowed to help other families with similar tragedies by establishing the Victims of Crime in El Sereno (VOCES). Several years ago, Marina's beloved husband, Joe, passed away. Marina was a loving and caring community leader. Every Christmas, she made sure that victims of senseless violence would not be forgotten. Her message was shared throughout the community every December by organizing tree lighting ceremonies in Huntington Drive, with each tree decorated with red ribbons honoring the deceased victims. I have known and supported Marina since my years as a California State Assembly member. She leaves behind three grown children and a beautiful community she helped build. She will always be remembered for her stewardship and hard work to improve her community and the citizens who lived in it. We will miss her greatly, and may she rest in peace.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, it has been one year since the brave men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces were ordered into Iraq. On a daily basis, these brave servicemembers are displaying tremendous patriotism and courage. They and their families have made enormous sacrifices, many even the ultimate sacrifice, to serve our Nation. I continue to strongly support our troops serving us in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. My own district has seen the loss of four fallen heroes who gave their lives in defense of our Nation: Jorge Casanova, Atanacio Haro Marin, Francisco Martinez Flores, and Kelly Bolor. Many more from my district have been injured. One of my constituents, Eugene Serrano, was part of the unit that captured Saddam Hussein. Last month, I hosted a ceremony in my district to honor these fallen heroes and all of our Nation's veterans--those who have lost their lives, those who have put their lives on the line, and those who continue to risk their lives in order to defend our Nation. We should honor our troops and our veterans. However, I cannot support the particular resolution before us today. I oppose this resolution not because of what it says, but because of what it does not say. It fails to express sorrow and condolences to the families of the more than 550 servicemembers that have died in Iraq, over 415 of whom were killed after President Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq. It also lacks mention of the more than 3,500 who have been wounded in Iraq. Honoring our troops should go beyond mere words commending their service. We should also eliminate disparities in pay between our active duty military and the National Guard and reservists. Some reservist families in my district are struggling to make ends meet while their loved ones are serving our Nation abroad. We should also provide the health care and benefits our wounded service men and women earned when they come home. I've had the privilege of visiting Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC, where many of the wounded troops are receiving care upon returning from Iraq. Some of these soldiers, many of who have little financial resources, are facing substantial medical bills for injuries sustained during war. We should also take steps to ensure that the families of fallen soldiers have access to resources to cope with the loss of their loved one. This includes adequate funds for bereavement costs and translators for military personnel who visit families of fallen heroes whose first language is not English. When military personnel arrived at the home of one of the fallen service members from my district, his parents, like all parents in the same situation, feared the worst. Unfortunately, the parents were unable to fully understand why the uniformed military members were visiting them because they did not speak English. They feared for their son's condition. Language and cultural differences should be acknowledged and addressed, especially when families are hearing news that they have lost a loved one. Finally, this resolution ignores the important steps that must be taken to lay the foundation for a stable and secure Iraq. We should immediately remedy the deficiencies in the intelligence on which our troops rely and assemble a true international coalition so that the United States does not have to consume all of the costs and nearly all of the casualties. Doing so will help secure the region and bring our troops safely home. Today, we had an opportunity to truly honor our troops with words and action. Unfortunately, this resolution accomplishes nothing more than dividing us at a time when we should be united. I continue to support our troops. I want to extend sincere gratitude to them and their families for their extraordinary sacrifices.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the League of United Latin American Citizens as it celebrates its 75th year of advancing the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanics in the United States. LULAC's founding 75 years ago signaled the end of one era and the beginning of another. For decades, the Hispanic community had been engulfed in an environment of inequality, discrimination and injustice. The creation of an institution like LULAC initiated a positive change in the future direction of the Hispanic community as it embodied the will of a people to overcome these barriers to social inclusion and civic participation and claim their rights as U.S. citizens, to access the American dream. Today, LULAC represents Hispanics in most parts of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and Guam. It also serves as a cornerstone for some of the most successful Hispanic national organizations. For example, LULAC formed the American GI Forum to address the rights of Hispanic veterans. LULAC also helped to create the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund to function as the legal arm of the Hispanic community. LULAC's record of activism, whether fighting for voting rights and full access to the political process, equal educational opportunities for Hispanic children, or the rights of women and full inclusion in American society, is a testimony that it is an organization that will forever address those issues that impact the lives and future of all Hispanic Americans. I commend LULAC on its 75 years of service and the innumerable contributions it has made to our Hispanic community and our country as a whole.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Heather Taylor- Miesle, a dedicated and passionate young woman who has worked in my office as a Legislative Assistant handling environmental and transportation issues for nearly three years. Heather was instrumental in shepherding into law a bill that is important to my community and close to my heart--the San Gabriel Valley Watershed Act (Public Law 108-65). Signed into law on July 1, 2003, the bill implements a study that will investigate how to preserve green, open and recreational space in the San Gabriel Valley Watershed in Los Angeles County. This law will go a long way towards ensuring environmental justice for the community I represent--one that is often the victim of environmental blight, rather than the beneficiary of environmental good fortune. Heather is a proud environmental advocate who constantly pushes to ensure that the health and well-being of people remains at the top of the environmental agenda. She has worked with the local cities I represent to focus on cleaning up polluted Superfund sites and assessing the health risks of dust emitted by local gravel mining pits. As Heather leaves the office to pursue a new professional opportunity, I wish her, her husband Don, and son Isaiah the best of luck. Her warm personality and friendly demeanor will be greatly missed.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, good morning. I rise this morning to talk about the economy. President Bush keeps telling us the economy is turning the corner and that jobs are coming. Well, Mr. President, where are the jobs you keep promising? Last Friday brought more disappointing news to our country. Twenty- one thousand new jobs were created last month. That is 285,000 fewer jobs than President Bush promised his tax cut would provide. The unemployment rate among Latinos rose by 7.4 percent last month, 28 percent higher than when President Bush took office. Twenty thousand plus people in my District alone, 8 million nationwide, are out of work. These people are looking for jobs. This coming weekend we are helping to sponsor a job fair at the Los Angeles Dodgers stadium. Hundreds of out-of-work southern Californians are eager to return to work. They, too, want to know where the jobs are. The Bush policies have failed. It is time to take a different approach. Let us provide tax incentives for companies to keep jobs in the U.S. and pass the highway bill and create well-paid and meaningful jobs here in the U.S.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following on behalf of myself, Ms. Lucille Roybal-Allard, Mr. Dennis Cardoza, Ms. Grace Napolitano, and Ms. Linda Sanchez. We stand to recognize the life of Mr. Frank del Olmo, a hero in the Latino community who recently passed away. He was not only a leader for Latinos in the State of California, but also an exceptional human being who exemplified the best in American journalism. Mr. Del Olmo was an Associate Editor and columnist for the Los Angeles Times. An award-winning and nationally recognized writer, he wrote passionately about Latino issues in California for almost 34 years. More than an Editor and columnist, he was a politically driven activist whose powerful penmanship made him an innovative voice for Latinos, immigrants, and the less fortunate. He paved the way for other journalists and was highly revered by his colleagues for his pioneering work on the Latino community and the City of Los Angeles. Representing a city with a large but much ignored Latino population, Mr. Del Olmo gained recognition for educating readers throughout the nation about issues affecting Latinos. He was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for Meritorious Public Service in 1984 for the L.A. Times series ``Southern California's Latino Community.'' He was a Nieman fellow at Harvard University in 1987 and was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1972, he was a founding member of the California Chicano News Media Association. And in 1975, he won an Emmy Award for writing The Unwanted, a documentary on illegal immigration. Del Olmo was a bitter opponent of Proposition 187, a controversial California initiative in 1994, which denied basic government benefits to undocumented immigrants. Introduced by then Governor Pete Wilson and widely regarded as a discriminatory initiative, Mr. Del Olmo wrote a strong editorial piece, denouncing Governor Wilson and calling Proposition 187 ``the mean-spirited and unconstitutional ballot initiative that would deprive `apparent illegal aliens' of public health services and immigrant children of public education.'' He also helped correct injustices in Los Angeles County by uncovering corruption in municipal governments and touched the lives of countless families through his heart-felt columns on his son's battle with autism. Born in Los Angeles in 1948 and a graduate of California State University, Northridge, Mr. Del Olmo suffered a heart attack and died on February 19, 2004. His wife, Magdalena, a daughter, Valentina, and his son Frankie survive him. He will always be remembered for both his powerful voice and creative ability in depicting the best and, at times, the worst in today's society. Frank del Olmo will forever live in the hearts of L.A. Times readers, will forever be a hero in the Latino community, and will forever be a role model for future Latino leaders. We will miss Frank dearly and may he rest in peace.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the current state of our economy here in the U.S. Three years and three massive tax cuts later, President Bush keeps telling American working families that our economy is turning the corner and that jobs are going to be coming soon. Well, Mr. President, where are the jobs? Where are those promises you made? Last Friday brought more disappointing news about our jobless recovery. In fact, only 21,000 new jobs were created last month. Many economists had expected 125,000 new jobs, and the President promised 300,000 new jobs. The disastrous job creation levels are further evidence that the Bush economic policies are not working. However, the President continues to insist that his plan is the right approach. President Bush was in my home State of California last Friday when the dismal employment numbers were released. He was in Bakersfield, a town with an unemployment rate of 12.8 percent, painting an uplifting and positive picture of our troubled economy. When he learned that a local business there would be creating two new jobs, the President called it really good news. We need far more than two and three new jobs, Mr. President, to put our State back on track. The Bush economic policies have been a disaster for our State. Rather than create jobs, we have lost 3 million private sector jobs under this administration. If the rest of the year mirrors last month's numbers, it would take 9 years, 9 years, to recover all the jobs lost under this President. Much of the job loss has been in the manufacturing sector, where job loss is at a 53-year high. Another 3,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared last month because of outsourcing, a policy that the Bush administration says is healthy for our economy. Long-term unemployment also continues to be a very, very serious problem. The average out-of- work American is now unemployed for 5 months, the highest in 20 years. A report recently released by the Economic Policy Institute and the National Employment Law Project found that college graduates, older workers, and workers in the manufacturing industry disproportionately are likely to experience long-term chronic unemployment in our current economy. To make matters worse, President Bush wants to make it even more difficult for those to find work. Under his budget proposals this year, worker training and assistance programs for millions of Americans would be cut significantly. He wants to reduce access to worker training, child care support, housing assistance and college tuition relief and public health insurance at a time when most working families need help the most. I think that is wrong. Those of us that live in my district know how hard it has been. The reality is that in my district we have very high unemployment rates. In the cities that I represent, particularly East Los Angeles where about 70 to 80 percent of the population are Latino families, they are experiencing up to 10 percent and above unemployment rates. It has been that way for the last 3 years. Where is the relief for the districts that I represent, for the hardworking Americans that contribute to our taxing system here and get nothing in return when they really need it? I would ask for us to take a strong look at the policies that this administration is advocating and postpone the tax cuts for the wealthy and restore integrity in the health care services and in our education and in our environment. Our environment is suffering. Latino children in my district suffer higher rates of chronic illnesses, asthma, obesity, and diabetes. If these issues are not contained now, we are going to have to be paying for those tomorrow. We need to invest in America. We need to stop outsourcing. We need to make sure that our children and our families are taken care of. I would ask for all Americans to take a second look at this recovery that the President is proposing. I would ask for all of us to join together and make our resources felt here at home.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, today I rise also in strong opposition to the so-called Unborn Victims of Violence Act. I am extremely disappointed that the issue of violence against women is being manipulated into a political tug of war. The bill recognizes for the first time a fetus as a person with rights separate and equal to that of a woman. Nearly one in every three adult women experience at least one physical assault by someone that she knows, a partner in many cases. There is no doubt that acts of violence against women, especially pregnant women, are tragic and should be punished to the full extent of the law. However, we must institute legislation that does not erode the legal foundation of a woman's right to choose as a condition of protection against violence. We must support legislation that truly addresses harm to pregnant women and domestic violence. The Democratic substitute being offered today by Lofgren, the Motherhood Protection Act, would create a separate Federal criminal offense for harm to a pregnant woman, instead of recognizing the fetus as a separate legal person. Recognizing the real issue at hand, harm to a pregnant woman, must not be exploited to further a long-standing political agenda. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 1997, and support the Lofgren substitute.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Cristina Villarreal, a staff member who will be leaving my Washington, DC, office this week. Cristina came to our office after graduating from American University to work as a staff assistant. She worked her way up to serve as a scheduler and as a legislative aide working on foreign affairs issues. Cristina has worked with me as we developed legislation (H. Res. 466) to call attention to the disturbing abduction and murder of hundreds of women taking place in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. H. Res. 466 conveys the sympathy of the U.S. House of Representatives to the families of the young women murdered in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, and encourages increased United States involvement in bringing an end to these crimes. Cristina also helped me organize a Congressional delegation to travel to Mexico to bring light to the over 300 young women who have been killed in Ciudad Juarez over the last decade. Cristina shares my commitment to bringing light to this human rights issue. Cristina is beloved by her colleagues and will be missed by them. As Cristina moves on to pursue graduate education, I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Nikki Yamashiro, a dedicated, thoughtful, and intelligent young woman who I have been fortunate to have working on my staff for over two years. Nikki first began working in my Washington office as an intern in the winter of 2001. We were pleased to have a resident of Monterey Park, a community I represent, and a graduate of the University of California at San Diego, in our office. Nikki quickly showed us the qualities that would make her a valuable contribution to our team--her intelligence, willingness to work hard, and commitment to the residents of California's 32nd Congressional District. Nikki gradually worked her way up from an intern to her current position of Legislative Assistant. Along the way, she spearheaded my office's participation in the Congressional Arts--Competition and improved the efficiency of our constituent mail system. Last year, she played a key role in strengthening two bills I introduced--the Domestic Violence Courts Assistance Act and the Domestic Violence Prevention, Education, and Awareness Act. Nikki is a true champion for women's rights and has helped me build nationwide support for these bipartisan bills. I am very proud of her work, but I am most proud of the work Nikki did to shepherd into law a bill important to our community--the Francisco A. Martinez Flores Post Office Act (Public Law 108-116). Lance Corporal Martinez Flores was a courageous Marine from Duarte, CA, who lost his life while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nikki and I worked together to get all 53 Members of the California delegation on board as cosponsors of a bill to rename a local post office after Francisco. Nikki would not rest until we achieved our goal--and I am proud to say the post office will be officially renamed on February 28, 2004. Although I am proud that Nikki is choosing to pursue graduate education, I know that our office will not be the same without her. Nikki is very much loved and respected by everyone she works with. I wish Nikki the best of luck in all her future endeavors. I have no doubt she can achieve anything she sets her mind to.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the jobless recovery. What an oxymoron that is. Families in my district and around the Nation want to know, where are the jobs? Only 296,000 jobs have been created since this President took office, well below the 2 million that he promised. These jobs, by the way, are being created and going overseas. That is what is really happening here in the U.S. My district is hurting. I represent East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Our unemployment is well over 10 percent. Hundreds of people continue to look for work. When we talk about homeland security, we should also be talking about job security. It is time to enact policies that will truly stimulate the economy and create jobs at home. We should provide tax cuts for middle class families, tax incentives to keep jobs here in the U.S., and implement fair-trade agreements that respect and level the playing field.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the rich history of African Americans as we celebrate African American History Month. Throughout our Nation's history, African Americans have made vast contributions to all aspects of American society--music, literature, sports, education, science, business, and politics. This month and throughout the year we honor these contributions and the wonderful African American men and women whose stellar achievements have left a positive imprint on our society. We remember in a very special way this month the thousands of African Americans serving in the United States Armed Forces. From the Revolutionary War to the war in Iraq, African Americans have served our Nation in high numbers and with great distinction and honor. We honor this proud history and all African Americans currently defending our Nation and its freedoms. I encourage those living in my district in Los Angeles County, California, and around the country to take time this month to learn more about vast cultural and historical contributions made by African Americans to our great Nation.