Hilda Solis

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I would like to also thank the gentleman from Oregon for putting this discussion here before the public. And I too, Mr. Speaker, rise to express my frustration with the leaders of our country, particularly the Bush administration, in their failure to be fully supportive of all the participants at the recent Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Johannesburg conference was a meeting where nearly 200 countries came together for 10 days to search for ways to bring clean water and sanitation to nearly 2 billion of the world's poorest people, the world's poorest people. Because of this administration's unwillingness to help meet the needs of our global society, there were a few binding commitments made at the conference and our world leaders left that conference without addressing some of the most pending issues, like issues regarding AIDS, smokestack emissions, or uneven benefits of global trade. Carbon dioxide emissions, as my colleagues know, have risen 18 percent above 1990 levels in the U.S., by 11 percent in Japan, 13 percent in Canada, and almost 30 percent in Australia. As our carbon dioxide levels have risen, so too have our instances of weather-related disasters, and we see that here in the U.S. more and more. Since 1975 these natural disasters, namely droughts, windstorms, and floods, have increased by 160 percent, killing approximately 440,000 people and causing $480 billion worth of damage in the 1990s alone. And still the U.S. negotiators fought efforts to decrease our world's dependence on dirty fossil fuels and increase our focus on alternative energy use by refusing to commit to deadlines that would have held our world leaders accountable? Any teacher or student will say that deadlines are necessary to ensure progress. We know that. And yet this administration would rather continue to allow people to live in unsanitary and unhealthy and unthinkable conditions in the name of flexibility. During this past week, we heard repeatedly from U.S. officials that actions speak louder than words. If our actions are truly commendable and beneficial, why does this administration fear committing to sustainable development not only in action but in clear words and statements? There must be some form of accountability. No longer can we live without the understanding that this is a global society and we have to work together with real plans and real goals and real accountability to ensure that development is sustainable, not just in this country, in the U.S., but in the entire world. We have a responsibility. The world's scientists predict that the Earth's temperature could rise by a global average of 6 degrees celsius by the year 2100. This reality demands action now; and 10 years ago at the Rio conference, many new initiatives and goals were put forward, and at this conference there were only two instances where we set a true goal. Number one, by 2015 we committed cutting in half the proportion of people who did not have access to basic sanitation. Number two, we established greater marine-protected networks. And in every case existing commitments were either reaffirmed, watered down, or altogether trashed. When are we going to get serious about solving the problems of sustainable development? The goal of the summit was to implement a vision for a healthier and more sustainable future; but it fell far short, and now our country risks falling behind our competitors who will develop innovative and profitable and clean and efficient technologies, but where does that leave us? Where does that leave the United States? It is time for this administration to start focusing on sustainable development.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the manager on this side for yielding me time to speak this evening. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed also that we are spending these last few hours here while we are in session before we go on a 5-week break to talk about this issue, because I do not think it is one that the public and constituents in my district really think is of an urgent nature. I say that in a very respectful way, because I truly believe that to understand this issue of late-term abortion is to understand the circumstances that some women have had to take in their past because of something that was not in their control. I also want to share a personal experience, not one of my own, but of a family member. My older sister many years ago had to have a late-term abortion. This was going to be her third child. The last one she had was already at age 12, so she wanted to have another child. She was very excited about her pregnancy. In her fifth month she was told by her doctor that this fetus was not forming or developing appropriately, in fact, it did not have a brain, so if she were to continue with this pregnancy, she in fact would not be giving birth to anything that would be able to sustain itself. She was therefore then required to make a decision. She is a Catholic. She grew up in the same household I did. She has the same values, if not stronger. I do not happen to have any children. She has. I will never forget the day she got out of hospital and I visited with her at home. She was traumatized. She did not want to part with that fetus she was carrying for five months. It was a part of her and her family. Let me tell you there are many women that feel that way that have to make those kinds of decisions, not because they wanted to abort for the sake of aborting, but because there are other physical limitations that are out of our control. You can shake your head and say no, you are not talking the truth. Let me tell you, there are millions and millions of people out there who do understand this issue and do know that there is sympathy across the country regarding a woman's right to choose. This is a wrong approach, and I would ask my colleagues to vote against this proposition.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an urgent issue facing the people that I represent in Los Angeles, California, in the great county of Los Angeles: nearly 3 million people in Los Angeles lack adequate health care insurance. At least 215,000 of those people live in communities that I represent in the San Gabriel Valley in east Los Angeles. Unfortunately, individuals without health insurance are more likely to have serious health problems and put off getting needed care. In L.A. County, our system of public hospitals and county clinics works together to provide health care to those who cannot afford health care because they are either uninsured or underinsured. Clinics offer vital services that provide prenatal care, asthma treatment, diabetes screening, and HIV prevention. Without these vital clinics, thousands of uninsured patients would have no health care or safety net for their families. Unfortunately, in L.A. County's health care system, we are now faced with major budget cuts that are threatening to close dozens of our health clinics. The crisis is a result of a combination of factors: an increase in the number of uninsured patients, declining State revenues, and Federal payments that simply do not match our need. L.A. County has the highest proportion in the Nation of indigent patients relying on the county health care system, with more than 600,000 people a year waiting to receive some kind of treatment at our county facilities. I am very concerned about the county's budget cuts because they will have a devastating impact on those people that reside in my community. Clinics, for example, in the city of Alhambra and in Azusa are scheduled to be closed in the future. Alhambra Health Center receives over 22,000 visits a year. In the city of Azusa, the health care center receives over 21,000 visits a year. These are families struggling with high unemployment rates. In fact, in my district alone in the city of South El Monte, we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country: 11 percent. Where will the young mother who needs to have her baby's hearing checked go? What should we tell the working father who needs a place to get his diabetes treatment screened? Who will take care of the elderly woman who has problems with arthritis? Since L.A. County's health care system is so large, any downturn will have a ripple effect throughout California and the rest of the country. It is time for the Federal Government to step up to the plate and do its part to help the residents of L.A. County. Both the Congress and the administration must continue to work together. The Center for Medicaid and Medicare services here in Washington, also known as CMS, can help L.A. County with the Federal program known as the Medicaid Upper Payment Limit. Payments under the Upper Payment Limit, also known as the UPL, help safety net hospitals like L.A. County by providing over $120 million each year. Unfortunately, CMS decided this past January that they would change the rules on UPL. This change would devastate California. We could potentially lose up to $300 million in Medicaid funding this year. CMS says the change in UPL is necessary because States were abusing the Upper Payment Limit by using these monies for nonhealth-related purposes. But this is not the case in California. Those monies were used in the health care delivery system, and it is simply unreasonable to punish California, to punish our uninsured patients, for the mistakes that other States have made. I want to remind my colleagues that now is the time to work together in a bipartisan fashion, and I hope we can agree that these important Upper Payment Limits need to continue at an agreed-upon rate. It is simply unfair to play politics with people's lives and health care services. We in Congress have an important role to play in Federal health care efforts. Right now, funding for another Federal program, known as the Disproportionate Share Hospital program, or DSH, is also scheduled to be cut. Cuts in the DSH program will cost California $183 million, and L.A. County can potentially get a hit of $37 million. That would ruin our safety net. Fortunately, the support for stopping the DSH cliff is bipartisan. Many in this Congress are working together to ensure that hospitals that serve indigent patients get the help they need in our communities immediately. I know our Republican and Democratic leadership have pledged to stop what they call the ``DSH cliff.'' I urge my colleagues to work together to resolve this matter. Patients in our county are counting on us here in the Congress to take care of this problem. I also want to bring to Members' attention another issue that is of great concern to us in L.A. County, and we call this ``the waiver.'' It is known here in Washington as the Medicaid 1115 waiver. This waiver allows L.A. County to operate our health care system in a unique way that is designed to serve patients better and saves the Federal Government money. I would ask that we also renew our efforts to provide full support for DSH funding. Mr. Speaker, as Los Angeles County faces new realities in our health care system, including a rising uninsured rate, the County has begun to renegotiate its waiver with the federal government. I hope that my colleagues at CMS will look favorably at the County's efforts to renegotiate the waiver. The County is taking serious steps to reconfigure its health care system, but we can't do it alone. We need the partnership of the federal government. Without it I fear we will force thousands of Los Angelinos who depend on our emergency care services to forgo urgently needed health care. We can't afford to sit idly by while patients in Los Angeles County face a health care crisis, we simply must do more.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Flake amendment. I had the opportunity on two occasions to visit Cuba, and I went there out of curiosity to also see what many of my constituents have come to tell me, and that is that there are some opportunities there, cultural exchange, educational opportunities. When I came back from my first trip, I noticed that on the plane coming back, there were 20 students from Mt. San Antonio College that were playing in athletic games with students in Cuba, and I asked them, what was your curiosity? What did you think about the Cuban government? What did you think about the people there? Many of them said that they were very supportive and felt that they were a part of a student group there that they could work on different issues and learn about each other and break down those barriers that we hear about every single day here by some of the rhetoric that we are even hearing here tonight. I met with students, medical students from California, from Boston, from New York, who are there because they cannot get into medical schools here, who are learning about how to become professionals in the health career field. That is one of the reasons why I went. Trade promotion also needs to be a part of this discussion.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, each weekend when I go home to my district, the issue I hear the most about is with respect to the economy. President Bush has told the American public that our economy is fundamentally sound. I question that terminology. I question it because in my own district, one of the largest cities that I represent, the city of El Monte, we have upwards of 9 percent unemployment. In the city of South El Monte, it goes beyond. It is 11 percent. People are wondering what is happening to them there. In Baldwin Park, unemployment rates are 8.2 percent. In South El Monte again, it is 11 percent. And it is not just about the unemployed. It is about jobs and it is about the potential for these people to have a place to stay, to live, to raise their families. Each day brings more layoffs and each week brings new news that yet another corporate scandal is upon us. The collapse of WorldCom has serious implications for not only those that work for that company but also the many people and organizations who invested millions in that company. The California Public Employees Retirement System, CALPERS, which provides retirement and health benefit services to 1.3 million public employees and nearly 2,500 employers, has estimated a loss at $433 million because of the collapse of WorldCom. It is time for President Bush and the Republican majority in the House to stand up for workers and provide restitution to the employees who lost their life savings and their pension funds.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the San Gabriel/Pomona Valley Council on Political Education (C.O.P.E.) for more than 50 years of leadership and service to the Southern California community. The San Gabriel/Pomona Valley C.O.P.E. has championed the rights of working men and women throughout the community. Through its large network of dedicated union members and their families, C.O.P.E. has actively worked to improve wages, working conditions, health care, education, and the overall quality of life of every worker. Much of the success of the San Gabriel/Pomona Valley C.O.P.E. is attributed to the efforts of its membership and the tremendous commitment of its leadership. Today, I would like to recognize the service of past leaders that played an important role in the organization's well-being, namely: Arnold F. Hackman, Meat Cutters Local Union #439; Dallas Jones, formerly of the Los Angeles County Firefighters Local #1014 and now serving as Director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services for the State of California; William R. Lathrop, United Food & Commercial Workers Union #1167; Jesse Martinez, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local #1976, #309, and #409; Joseph R. Rocha, Laborers International Union of North America Local #1082; Herb Schisler, Los Angeles County Firefighters AFL-CIO Local #1014; and John M. Wolsdorf, hitemational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers AFL-CIO Local #1710. Therefore, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the San Gabriel/Pomona Valley C.O.P.E. for their work and contributions to this great nation.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I also rise today in support of the Slaughter-Dicks amendment, which would increase the funding for the National Endowment for the Arts by $10 million and the National Endowment for the Humanities by $5 million. In our country, 76.2 million adults attend performing arts events or exhibition events every year. Arts and humanities play a big role in our lives. This year I had the honor of serving as co-chair with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) for the Congressional Arts Competition. Not too long ago, we had 308 students from across this country come here and exhibit their artwork. We were all very proud to see them here, for them to realize their talents and skills, and to maybe someday think that they could also receive a grant to continue their profession. I cannot tell Members how heartfelt it was for me to see a student from my district compete in this competition and know that they have a career ahead of them. Coming from a life of poverty, living in a trailer park could somehow be able to actualize their talents and skills. I think we need to support this amendment. We need to continue to increase funding, especially for our young, disadvantaged youth that were discussed earlier. Let us not leave any child behind. Let us give them an opportunity to participate in a civic way in the arts, to give good examples and allow them to extend their talents and share that with the entire world. NEA funds 249 grants throughout the country called the Challenge American Positive Alternative Youth Program. I am in support of this program. Just remember, Members, when we walk through the tunnel between our buildings and the Capitol, look at the artwork. Think about what young people have been helped, and let us give them a chance to be a part of the artistic discoveries in our country.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 393, the resolution offered by Representative Joseph Crowley. We have all heard during the past year and a half about the egregious acts of anti-Semitic behavior that have spread through Europe-- vandalism of synagogues; desecration of graveyards; personal attacks of people of Jewish faith; boycott of products made in Israel. These actions are cowardly and have resulted in the worst wave of anti- Semitic behavior since 1945. Today, I rise to support this resolution that calls upon the governments of Europe to protect their residents--Jewish and non-Jewish alike. We must fight for understanding and cooperation between people of all religions, not just in the turbulent Middle East but wherever prejudice and discrimination occur. Our nation prides itself on maintaining an atmosphere where people can practice whatever religion they choose. Religious tolerance is the root of our peace and prosperity; we must strive to ensure that it is practiced throughout the world so that others may benefit from this spirit of cooperation. No one deserves to be discriminated against, harmed or even killed simply because of their personal religious beliefs. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to ensure that this behavior ceases immediately.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to rise today to honor the 10th anniversary of the Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Promotoras Comunitarias Training Program. This innovative community outreach program started in 1991 to help promote family planning education programs in Latino communities by training women within the community to do the outreach. This is important because it helps spread the message of family planning in a culturally sensitive manner. Not only did the program help spread much-needed information about family planning methods, it also instilled in the women who became Promotoras a sense of pride and helped them develop critical life skills. By giving their families, friends and neighbors vital health care information and then facilitating access to gynecological health care, Promotoras are empowering women to advocate for their own health care. In return, these dedicated women were able to develop job skills, communication methods and leadership traits. In short, the Promotoras program has helped thousands of women in my area learn about gynecological care and domestic violence prevention. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable organization.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, corporate responsibility. Well, my colleagues, Enron got away with robbing thousands of pension holders from their life savings, and millions of Americans are watching us, waiting to see why there is a double standard. Why is it that someone who walks into the local grocery store, who picks up maybe a box of Cracker Jacks gets thrown into jail and the CEOs that rob thousands and millions of people, pensioners and retirees, of their life savings do not have anything going against them. No record, no nothing. They are let off with hardly a scandal. The other thing I want to bring up is, why are we allowing for corporate America to get away with not paying for the pollution that they create in our waters, in particular Superfund sites? I have two Superfund sites in my own district now, and I ask why is it that we are giving them a break to get off the hook? It is not fair for our communities. Why should the consumers and the taxpayers that I represent have to pay for corporate America's mistakes and mishaps? We ought to use a big stick, not a pillow, and we ought to talk big and make punishment real for those people that break the law.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight, and I want to especially thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) and applaud her for her work in bringing us together here tonight to talk about the HIV pandemic. We have all been closely following the happenings this week at the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain, and although it is exciting to hear about the new research breakthroughs and findings, it is also disheartening to hear about the sheer number of people who are infected and affected by this disease throughout the world. More than 40 million people are living with HIV worldwide, and nearly 5 million of those people were diagnosed with HIV just last year alone. Ninety-six percent of those people living with HIV reside in developing countries, Third World countries and, for example, 1.5 million children and adults in Latin America alone are living with HIV. About 130,000 of these were diagnosed just last year. Unfortunately, many HIV-positive individuals do not even know they have the deadly disease. We still have a long way to go to raise awareness about the disease and to ensure that Nations have the resources to implement proven prevention and treatment programs. We must do more to help our global neighbors combat this deadly disease. UNAIDS has estimated that between $7 billion and $10 billion is needed each year to effectively respond to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, but during this last fiscal year, the United States only contributed an estimated $1 billion to HIV and AIDS research. This includes a $200 million of contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and I think that is great, but we can do a lot better. It is important to note that aid for global HIV effort is more than a moral responsibility. It is an economic and political necessity. Countries with AIDS face economic and social threats as governments struggle with the burden of trying to pay for HIV treatment and prevention, and often the populations most affected by HIV are the key to the economic stability of these nations. As an example, these people are the ones between the age of 15 and 24 years old. They represent 42 percent of the newest HIV infections and make up about one-third of the global total of people living with AIDS. When these people face the threat of AIDS, their families and communities are devastated and, of course, HIV also has a particularly devastating impact on the youngest of our global population. Worldwide, an estimated 14 million children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents from AIDS. The stories of children who are orphaned by AIDS are heartbreaking to all of us. We cannot afford to ignore the AIDS crisis. We must commit ourselves to doing more, and I hope that this Congress can make that commitment, and I certainly urge and strongly urge the President of the United States to do the same.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very special family celebration that will take place on June 29, 2002, in the town of Clifton, Arizona. On Saturday, the Tellez family, many members of whom now reside in my district in California, will be honored for its dedication and service in valiantly defending our nation in the U.S. Armed Forces. The family will be recognized by the Hermanos de Vietnam, a division of the American Legion Post in Clifton, Arizona, for its combined 30 years of service in the U.S. military. Remarkably, 11 out of the 15 family members have served in the military. The legacy began when Florencio Tellez, the family patriarch, served in the Army during World War I. His eight sons and two daughters followed in their father's footsteps. Ruben and Florencio Tellez, Jr., both served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Ruben Tellez served with the airborne division as a radio man, and Florencio, Jr., survived when his ship was struck by the Germans and sunk. Raul, Joe and Gilbert Tellez all served in the Korean War. Raul and Joe were in the Navy and served on the same ship; Gilbert was a Marine who was wounded by enemy fire. Richard Tellez, served in the Navy during the 1950s and continued as a reservist through Desert Storm. His brothers Edward and Oscar ``Duffy'' Tellez served during the Cold War era. Edward was in the Air Force stationed in Iceland, and Oscar joined the Army and was stationed in Germany. Florencio's two daughters also devoted themselves to the U.S. military. Stella Tellez was in the Marine Corps, and Katherine Tellez was in the Cadet Nurse Corps, a group that addressed the nursing shortage in civilian hospitals. This remarkable family has given more to our nation than anyone would ever have thought possible. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the Tellez family for their valiant and courageous service to our country.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, women in this country need a Medicare drug benefit now. In the State of California, 56 percent of Medicare recipients are women. These elderly women have on the average spent about 10 percent of the cost for prescription drugs there, but this year alone their costs went up about 20 percent; and for people from my district particularly, this is a very, very extreme hardship. Most are on fixed incomes and cannot afford those costs, and they believe the plan that is being proposed by the Republicans today will actually make their lives worse. I know that because their plan will help to benefit HMOs and insurance companies and it is a farce. They are saying that our current drug benefit program is a Soviet-style form of government. That cannot be farther from the truth. When I go into my senior citizen centers, the first thing people ask me is, Hilda Solis, you are my representative, why is there not a better benefit program so I can pay for my treatment that I need to control my diabetes, to get my insulin, to pay for the things that I need to survive? Let us do the right thing today. Let us vote for a Democratic substitute that is fair for all people.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I express my opposition to this bill. (The following sentence was delivered in Spanish.) Mr. Speaker, for all of the old women who can hear me loud and clear, this is another tactic for the Republicans to take away your medication.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate this opportunity to have this special hour dedicated to our parks. Because as we go into our holiday season preparing for the 4th of July, there is going to be over 60 million people that will visit our Nation's national parks; and national parks create a place for families to recreate, to enjoy each other, to enjoy natural resources and learn about the world around us. All of our parks to me are national treasures and I know to many people. Some of our most used parks are ones that I represent in my own district in the San Gabriel Valley in East Los Angeles out in California, and it is surprising, but the studies that I have seen regarding park space is despicable when it comes to low-income communities and where individuals do not have the opportunity to have open space. In fact, according to a study by the University of California Sustainable Cities Program, three to four acres of open space or green space are needed per 1,000 people to be considered a healthy environment. But in my own district in Los Angeles, there is less than a half acre per 1,000 people. Imagine that. Packed in like sardines. Communities like mine are in need of park opportunities, and they are waiting for this release now. In the 2003 budget, the President has eliminated funding for the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program, a program that provides $29 million annually to urban communities to preserve park land and develop recreational opportunities in their communities. Oddly enough, this administration recently touted the urban park grants for 2002 as one of their accomplishments, despite their intention to defund it. The President claims that it is time to tighten our financial belts and merely maintain parks that we have now. The administration says they do not want to add any new parks, but, in fact, as my colleague, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), said, back in February President Bush signed a bill creating the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site. Meanwhile, other bills are lingering in committee waiting to be heard. I happen to have a bill that is waiting to be heard. It is H.R. 2966; and it would create a study to find out if we could create a national park for Cesar Chavez, a leading figure in the Latino community who fought on behalf of farm workers, fought against the use of pesticides for farm workers, and looking for equal justice for all people, for all workers. Would it not be wonderful to have the first national park to recognize a Latino leader in the United States? I ask that question because it is time. Our communities are diverse, and it turns out that recent polling that I have seen indicates that the Latino community or Hispanic community is indeed in favor of open space and open parks and more space so that they can have the ability to recreate. And what is happening? We are going in the opposite direction. We are not doing enough to diversify and even allow for urban parks to be established. I have another bill that will be heard shortly in the Committee on Resources to establish, hopefully, a study for one of the largest urban parks in California. Currently, a state conservancy exists in our community known as the River Mountain Conservancy where over 7 million people live alongside this river that covers over 31 miles. I would hope that the administration and our colleagues on the other side will work with us in a bipartisan manner so that more funding will go into parks and recreation. Our communities need it, urban America needs it, and the diversity of our country desires that.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley for its dedication to increase participation in the democratic processes of government. Founded in 1956 as the Provisional League of Women Voters of West Covina, the organization was officially recognized by the National League of Women Voters in 1958. When the group's name changed to the League of Women Voters of East San Gabriel Valley in 1969, the chapter was the second largest in the state of California. Today the group serves communities in more than 20 cities in Southern California. The League provides a host of services to fulfill its fundamental mission of providing non-partisan information to citizens that will encourage them to participate in all levels of government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Citizens in my district have benefited from activities such as a year-round voter information service, candidate forums during election season, summaries about Los Angeles County ballot measures, explanations of new voting devices and voter registration drives. I am proud to have this commendable public service organization in my district. Their efforts to educate our community about the importance of voting and political participation are helping to produce a well- informed electorate that fights for the issues that are important to working men and women.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and congratulate the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles on their 75th Jubilee. Founded in Mexico in 1921 by Mother Luisa Josefa of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Carmelite Sisters arrived in Los Angeles in 1927. Their mission since inception has been to devote their lives to works of charity, specifically in the fields of health care, education, child care, and retreat work. In its 75 years, the Carmelite Sisters have provided numerous services to the Los Angeles community, especially residents of the 31st Congressional District. The Carmelite Sisters are responsible for the vitality of critical institutions such as Santa Teresita Hospital, five parochial schools and two high schools, as well as a child care facility and a retreat house. These institutions provide services that are essential to my district where adequate access to health care, education, and child care is a major concern. Once again, I congratulate and commend the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles on their 75th Jubilee, and for serving the health, educational, and child-care needs of the residents of the San Gabriel Valley.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the numerous contributions of one of my constituents, Mrs. Alicia Irma Bonilla. Mrs. Bonilla has served the students and schools in the city of Azusa for over 40 years through countless hours of volunteer service. Her years of dedicated service have made a significant improvement in our schools and our community. While working full time at the Good Samaritan Credit Union, Mrs. Bonilla also managed to be involved in schools such as Valleydale Elementary, Ellington Elementary, Center Middle School, Foothill Middle School and Gladstone High School. For the past two years, Mrs. Bonilla has served as Azusa Council Parent Teacher Association (PTA) President and the past 6 years at First District PTA. Mrs. Bonilla has also contributed her time to the Girl Scouts, Little League, Helping Hand, and Azusa Youth Programs. Her years of hard work and dedication earned her the prestigious PTA Golden Oak Award and Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to working witii the city's youth, Mrs. Bonilla has contributed her time to local community and senior organizations like the Azusa Golden Days Activities, UMAYPA, Healthy Start Families, and Azusa Citizens' Congress. Mrs. Bonilla has also served as a religious education teacher, financial council secretary and Eucharistic minister for Our Lady of Guadalupe Church since it opened its doors 35 years ago. Mrs. Bonilla and her husband Joseph have four grown daughters, Carol, Sandra, Annette and Terri, who have gone through the Azusa Unified School District. Mrs. Bonilla is a role model to many children, including her own. Her youngest daughter, Terri, currently dedicates numerous hours to our schools and community. Mrs. Bonilla is a woman who has served our community with her heart, mind and soul. Countless families have benefited from her kindness and generosity. I am thankful to Mrs. Bonilla for her commitment to our community and would like to honor her today.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, this morning in The Washington Post, I read with alarm: ``Drug Firms Among Big Donors at GOP Event Tonight.'' Thirty million dollars is going to be raised. In lieu of trying to provide a prescription drug benefit for seniors, why can we not do the right thing today and stay as long as it is going to take to make sure that we do the right thing for our seniors? Every weekend that I go home and speak to my seniors, most of them say, Congresswoman Solis, what is it going to take for the Congress to listen to the needs of senior citizens? And I tell them that right now our House is not working in the democratic mode. We are not allowing for discussion and debate so that we can provide assistance and benefits that are much needed by our senior citizens. This is a sham that is occurring here today, and it is unfortunate that we cannot come together and work in a bipartisan manner to see that our seniors and those that are on fixed incomes receive the kind of relief that is due them. Many people save their money for their retirement. Right now they are faced with some major hardships. I would ask that Republicans meet with us until after 5 o'clock today, before they go to their fundraiser, and let us get the work done for our seniors on prescription drug relief.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Renee D. Martinez for becoming the first woman and first Latina to achieve a position at the level of permanent Vice President of Workforce Education and Economic Development in the history of East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, California. Throughout her entire professional career, Ms. Martinez has remained committed to improving educational access and opportunities for the community. Ms. Martinez began serving the East Los Angeles community in 1968 at the Hammel Street Children Center as a teacher, consultant and supervisor. In 1974, Ms. Martinez joined East Los Angeles College as a coordinator for the Outreach Education Associate Program for Education Aides. She then became a professor in the Child Development program and soon became the Chairperson for the Family & Consumer Studies Department. Shortly after, Ms. Martinez became Co-Director and Trainer of the Independent Living Program for Adults and Teenagers. From there, Ms. Martinez became Director of the Foster Care Education Program. In 1995, Ms. Martinez was appointed Director/Associate Dean of Student Activities. In 1996, Ms. Martinez was promoted to Dean of Academic Affairs. Since 2000, she has served as temporary Vice President of Workforce Education and Economic Development. In addition to her professional contributions to the East Los Angeles College community, Ms. Martinez has spent her time and energy serving on numerous advisory committees for organizations like: East Los Angeles YMCA, Las Madrinas de Montebello, Friends of El Centro Mental Health Center, Latinas Partners for Health HIV/AIDS, and many others. Ms. Martinez's commitment to the community and hard work earned her various awards, such as: the Mexican American Alumni Award, 1992; National Head Start Latino Leadership, 2000; and Director of the Year- Foster Care Education, 1994. Ms. Martinez currently resides in Hacienda Heights, CA. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University of Los Angeles and a Master of Arts degree from University of San Francisco. It gives me great pride to honor and congratulate Renee D. Martinez for achieving the position of permanent Vice President of Workforce Education and Economic Development at East Los Angeles College and her many contributions to our community.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Southern California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002. During the last 20 years, 675,000 acres of unprotected wilderness-- approximately the size of Yosemite National Park--have lost their wilderness character due to activities such as logging, mining and development. We cannot let this destruction of our most precious resources continue unchecked! This groundbreaking legislation will preserve about 1.6 million acres of Southern California wilderness for generations to come. As a child, my family did not have the financial resources to travel to expensive, vacation spots. But my family's best memories are from family outings to the Azusa canyon in our local National Forest. This is where we learned to appreciate the world around us. We were fortunate enough to be able to travel a few miles to enjoy the great outdoors at the foothills of the Angeles National Forest. Families like mine continue to use Federal lands to vacation, hike, swim and appreciate nature. As this relationship grows, so does our concern about the future of our precious lands. People, regardless of race or income, are overwhelmingly concerned about our natural resources. The community I represent is 60% Latino and 30% Asian. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. One might think that our main concern is putting food on the table. But with 3 Superfund sites, 17 gravel pits, and 2 rivers that resemble sewer channels, our concerns are many--and especially the environment! My community's interest is not unusual. Studies show that 96% of Latinos believe that the environment should be an important priority for this country. And this statistic isn't just confined to Hispanics. African Americans, Native Americans, Caucasians, Asian Americans--we all care about the environment. In the coming decades, the population of California is expected to skyrocket. In Los Angeles alone, population growth estimates predict that the number of people will at least double. According to the University of Southern California's Sustainable Cities Program, 3 to 4 acres of open or green space are needed per 1000 people for a healthy environment. In my urban area, there is less then \1/2\ acre per 1000 people. This is a nation-wide trend. With more people and less space, we have to start planning so that we don't look around one day and realize that all we see is concrete buildings, congested highways and smoggy cities. We have to plan for environmental preservation now so that our natural resources are not destroyed by carelessness and over-development. The Southern California Wild Heritage Wilderness bill will put us on the right track so that our environment is not the victim of our population but growth, a managed approach which respects communities and open space. This bill will also give working families an opportunity to enjoy and learn about the environment. It will provide the open space needed to create a safe haven where people can get away from the city, the smog, the noise, and the daily hazards of urban life to experience nature and enjoy quality time with family and friends. These lands also hold a lot of cultural value. This bill will protect sacred lands of California's Native American Tribes. This bill will honor our natural resources--our forest, streams, lakes, and wildlife. I am pleased to be a part of this effort and look forward to protecting our natural resources for generations to come.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 208 on H.R. 4800, Repealing the sunset of expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs, I was unavoidably detained due to airplane delays. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 207 on H.R. 483, Repealing the sunset of the exclusion from the federal income tax for restitution received by victims of the Nazi regime, I was unavoidably detained due to airplane delays. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I just want to reiterate again to the Members that we are talking about what is at stake here for millions and millions of people, senior citizens, even young folks that rely so heavily on this check. And what about those widows that now receive that payment? What are we telling them? What are we letting them know about our decisions here tonight? I would ask we consider rethinking this whole plan because I am not in a position to go home this weekend, Memorial Weekend, to start giving speeches about how patriotic our government is and how much we are doing everything we can; and at the same time, the very people that I am going to be speaking to, most of whom are on Social Security, knowing that we will be taking away from the very folks that deserve to have this support.

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, last night I stood in this very same room with some of you here to argue against the raising of the debt ceiling and from bankrupting our Social Security system for our current senior citizens and future baby boomers like myself and others. I am dismayed that this afternoon I have to return and make the very same argument again, raising the debt ceiling especially in such a backhanded way that unfairly forces us to make choices, choices of priorities. Make no mistake about it, make no mistake about it, Democrats do support our troops. We do support the war on terrorism; but we cannot sit idly by while the Bush administration and the Republican leadership continue to chip away at the support beams of Social Security in the name of patriotism. I ask, Is it patriotic to steal food and shelter from our seniors? Is it patriotic to force our seniors to choose between nutritious meals and their prescription drugs? Is it patriotic to ask our workers to pay into the Social Security system that may be dissolved before they have an opportunity to benefit from it, like myself? Mr. Speaker, the U.S. House of Representatives has over 61 women Representatives here now. But the United States is comprised of over 140 million women. And of those women, there are many who will be adversely affected by the radical shift in Social Security. Today women represent about 60 percent of the Social Security recipients and 72 percent of those are beneficiaries aged 85 years and over. More than a quarter of these women depend on Social Security as their sole source of income. And just like my district where there are many minority women, Latinas and women of Asian descent, they are at risk. Where are they going to go to help pay for their rent, to get their medicine, to take care of themselves? Because all they have is that check that comes maybe once a month. We cannot play with the lives of these women who have given so much to our country. Many are sole survivors now whose husbands have fought in our wars. We should not be forced to choose between democracy and the men and women who worked together to build this mighty country.