Hilda Solis

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who has also agreed to speak on this topic. I do want to go back, first, however, and thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), who spoke very eloquently about the current crisis that is occurring and that we are faced with, not just in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan and other Middle Eastern countries. We hope that tonight's discussion will lead our leaders to the direction of providing humanitarian assistance to those families that are in need, particularly those women and those young girls. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the urgent need to provide immediate economic stimulus to this country in the form of a payroll tax rebate for working families. The United States is facing a crisis, and it is not merely a security crisis. There is a visible, pressing need for economic stimulus and worker relief. We should move quickly to jumpstart the economy by putting money into the hands of the tax paying lower wage workers that are more likely to spend it immediately. My bill, the Working Families Tax Rebate Act will do just that. This bill will provide an immediate payroll tax rebate of up to $300 to people who didn't benefit from the tax cut signed into law in June. The dramatic decrease in travel and tourism not only affects those workers employed by the airline industry. Working men and women in the hospitality industry and service sector are also facing massive layoffs. These people need immediate help with buying their groceries, preparing for the holidays, and paying their heating bills. Our shop keepers need consumers back in the stores. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3015. Because this country needs economic stimulus now.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my opposition to Congressman Istook's amendment to the Labor, Health, Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. I am concerned with Congressman Istook's proposal to increase the abstinence-until-marriage education program by $33 million. Although I believe that educating teenagers about sexual abstinence can be beneficial it cannot be the course of sexual education. There is no substantive evidence that shows that abstinence-only education is effective. Instead, research repeatedly shows that the most effective route to combat teenage pregnancy is a comprehensive sexual education program. In my community, the Latino community, an abstinence-only lifestyle is preached in most households. Young Latinas are repeatedly told that if they have sex outside of marriage or become pregnant, they will be cut off from their families. However, 13 percent of Hispanic women in the United States aged 15-19 still become pregnant each year. Teenagers are sexually active; therefore they should know about the family planning methods available. In fact, each year, family planning services prevent about 386,000 teenage pregnancies. While I am pleased that Congressman Istook's amendment does not draw any funding away from the much-need Title X family planning program, I still cannot support such a large funding increase for a program that is so limited in scope and whose effectiveness has yet to be determined. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the urgent need to provide immediate economic stimulus to this country in the form of a payroll tax rebate for working families. The United States is facing a crisis, and it is not merely a security crisis. There is a visible, pressing need for economic stimulus and worker relief. We should move quickly to jumpstart the economy by putting money into the hands of the tax paying lower wage workers that are more likely to spend it immediately. My bill, the Working Families Tax Rebate Act will do just that. This bill will provide an immediate payroll tax rebate of up to $300 to people who didn't benefit from the tax cut signed into law in June. The dramatic decrease in travel and tourism not only affects those workers employed by the airline industry. Working men and women in the hospitality industry and service sector are also facing massive layoffs. These people need immediate help with buying their groceries, preparing for the holidays, and paying their heating bills. Our shopkeepers need consumers back in the stores. I urge my colleagues to support HR 3015. Because this country needs economic stimulus now.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the death of a Latina leader and a remarkable person. Ms. Anna Maria Arias, a California native, passed away from a bone marrow transplant procedure in Houston, TX last Monday. Ms. Arias immeasurably contributed to the Latino community through her vast experience and expertise in the media profession. She worked as a radio news anchor, newswriter, and as a media and campaign organizer for presidential and local candidates at the Democratic National Committee. She was also a member of the production team of CNN's Crossfire program and served as Managing Editor of HISPANIC Magazine for five years. In October 1994, Ms. Arias founded LATINA Style Magazine; the first national publication that covers issues pertinent to contemporary, professional, Hispanic working-women from a Latina point of view. Ms. Arias' familiarity and sensitivity towards issues meaningful to the Latino community was crucial to address the issues that affect Latina professionals. As the founding Publisher & Editor of LATINA Style Magazine, she provided a voice for, advocated on behalf of, and empowered professional Latina women throughout the entire United States. Ms. Arias' forward thinking and hard work was recognized when she was honored with the 1999 Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and with the Entrepreneurship Award by the Changing Images in America Foundation. Ms. Arias is a true leader who will be remembered for her adamant commitment to help others and for her dedication to educate and inform Latina women. Her efforts and ability to make inroads for an under- represented and disadvantaged population of our society has unquestionably contributed to the greater good.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and honored to be here also to join with my colleagues, colleagues that are not here this evening with us, but the millions of people who are watching us, and understanding that today is a very significant time for us. We are commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month; but we also, as Members of Congress, just voted out of this House today to authorize the printing of a pamphlet to honor Hispanic Americans who serve in this Congress and who have served in this Congress. Let us not forget that all of us from across this country have made great, great contributions and strides to this government. I am proud to be one of the newest Members and one of the few Latinos to serve in the House of Representatives. I am one of six, and I am proud to say that the district that I represent is made up largely of Hispanic Americans who vote, who participate in our government, and who serve us in our government through different segments, whether it be as public servants, whether it be in the military, or whether it be here before our colleagues as Members of Congress. I am proud to be a part of my community, most of which I want to talk about education, because education is really where it counts for many of us. Without educational opportunities, I know I would not be here standing as a congressional member before my colleagues here today. Part of those important aspects of education came to me in the form of government programs, Federal-sponsored programs, the Pell grant program, financial aid programs, that helped to provide incentives for families like mine who could not afford to send their children to college. Without those kinds of support, I know that many Latinos, many like myself, would not be able to have the kind of professional careers that we now lead. So I want to underscore how important it is to continue funding of education; and especially because now, as we find ourselves in a situation where many people are now out of work or having to work two or three jobs trying to make ends meet, it becomes even more difficult for them to obtain assistance to continue their career, whether it be at a university or at a community college. I want to mention that one of my first opportunities to serve in public office was as the first Latino elected to the Rio Hondo Community College Board, which is known by the Federal Government and recognized as a Hispanic-serving institution. What that means is that 25 percent of the student population there, the undergraduates enrolled, have to be of Hispanic dissent. Well, Rio Hondo Community College is far beyond that; it is about 50 to 60 percent. I am proud to say that that is one of the institutions that has just been recognized for sending and graduating more Latinos to go on, after receiving their 2-year degree there, to go on to a 4-year institution. So I am proud to have been a part of the successes that that college now realizes, and I am happy that this government now supports them through Federal funding through the Hispanic-serving institution accounts. There are over 203 of these Hispanic-serving institutions nationwide, and in California we represent 28 percent of those 57 Hispanic-serving institutions, to be more exact. In my congressional district we have several, some of which I have mentioned: Rio Hondo Community College, East Los Angeles College, California State University Long Beach, and Los Angeles. Also, two districts in my congressional district, Los Angeles Unified School District and El Monte Union School District, have some of the highest concentrations of Latino students in the United States. Today, Latino children are the largest group of minority children in our country. Despite our growing numbers, Latinos remain the most educationally disadvantaged amongst our public school students. The dropout rate is atrocious for Latinos. It is about 20 percent nationally, three times the rate of that of African American or Anglo students. Mr. Speaker, 1.3 million Latinos drop out of high school each year. This is atrocious, and only about 55 percent of Hispanics 25 years and older have completed a high school diploma, compared to 84 percent of Anglos and 76 percent of African Americans. Also, only 11 percent of Latinos have obtained a bachelor's degree or more, compared to other groups. Yes, the challenges we face as Latinos are daunting; but they are not insurmountable. Believe me, we are making educational gains. Latinos currently represent about 14.5 percent of the total traditional college-age population; and we hope that in the year 2025 that we will represent well over 22 percent of that population. Between 1976 and 1996, the number of Latinos enrolled in undergraduate education actually increased by 202 percent. Although our enrollment numbers may be low, we are on the rise. More and more of us are working to obtain higher education. Increasingly, Latino students are more likely to be forced to work part-time, as I said earlier, having to make ends meet just to acquire that ability to go on to college. Therefore, I will, as my colleagues here before us, support funding such as the 21st Century Higher Education Act, which would allow for more students of Hispanic backgrounds to have access to quality higher education. This would mean an allocation for more money and programs such as the GEAR UP program, which helps junior high students become college-ready; and it would increase funding for the TRIO programs like Upward Bound and Talent Search, which help Latinos prepare for college. I continue to support these programs myself and know that as the old saying goes: ``La educacion es la clave para un futuro mejor.'' That is to say our future lies in education. I support legislation that will help working men and women of our country also achieve the American dream. The Hispanic labor force is growing quickly. We comprise about 12.7 percent of the total labor force. This is an increase of 10.4 percent since 1998. Hispanic women are one of the fastest growing groups of women in the United States. Their total employment increased by 65 percent over the last 10 years. Hispanics are more likely than any other minority group to be heavily concentrated in the service occupations and almost twice as likely to be employed as operators and laborers. The majority of Hispanic women in the workforce are employed in the technical, sales, and administrative support and service jobs. This means that an increase in the minimum wage is especially critical to Latinos overall, but particularly Latinas. Our Nation's workers deserve a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, and our national minimum wage simply does not represent a fair day's pay. In fact, the national minimum wage is not even enough to lift a family of three above the poverty level, which is $13,290 annually. A full-time year-round worker who supports a family of three would have to earn $6.39 an hour just to reach the poverty level, far above what we currently offer now at the Federal level, which is $5.15 per hour. I have no doubt that as Latinos working together we can make an increase in the minimum wage a reality. I hope that we can see that before we end our session this year. Because we can work together as a community, I know there is no end to the kinds of achievement and goals that we can obtain. Mr. Speaker, I salute my fellow Latinos during Hispanic Heritage Month, and I want to also recite to them this: ``Recuerden que en la unidad esta la fuerza,'' or remember that the power rests in unity.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the urgent need to provide immediate economic stimulus to this country in the form of a payroll tax rebate for working families. The United States is facing a crisis, and it is not merely a security crisis. There is a visible, pressing need for economic stimulus and worker relief. We should move quickly to jumpstart the economy by putting money into the hands of the tax paying lower wage workers that are more likely to spend it immediately. My bill, the Working Families Tax Rebate Act will do just that. This bill will provide an immediate payroll tax rebate of up to $300 to people who didn't benefit from the tax cut signed into law in June. The dramatic decrease in travel and tourism not only affects those workers employed by the airline industry. Working men and women in the hospitality industry and service sector are also facing massive layoffs. These people need immediate help with buying their groceries, preparing for the holidays, and paying their heating bills. Our shop keepers need consumers back in the stores. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3015. Because this country needs economic stimulus now.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the death of a notable civil rights leader and an extraordinary person. Mrs. Sally Fulton Reston made numerous contributions to our community and led an exemplary life. As a civil rights advocate, she dedicated much of her efforts towards seeking equality for disenfranchised communities. She served as a Board Member for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, MALDEF, for seven years and also served as the second Vice Chair for the Board for a year. MALDEF protects and promotes the civil rights of Latinos living in the United States through sound public policies, laws and programs. Mrs. Reston's efforts and contributions earned her MALDEF's highest award, The Valerie Kantor Award. The Valerie Kantor Award is the highest honor presented to those who have served MALDEF and the Latino community. Mrs. Sally Reston was also a renowed journalist. From 1968 to 1988, she was the co-publisher of the Vineyard Gazette. Furthermore, she also worked for The Junior League Magazine, Mademoiselle Magazine, Readers Digest in London, as well as the New York Times. Ms. Reston also enjoyed the simple things of life. She enjoyed photography, developing and printing her own work and had a great affection for the piano. I am saddened by the loss of such a fine member of our community. I extend my sincerest condolences to the Reston family, as we all mourn the loss of a true civil rights leader and an exceptional person.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, tonight I stand with my congressional colleagues in the House and in the Senate in my support of relief for the thousands of employees that have been or soon will be laid off in the wake of the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11. And, perhaps most importantly, I want to re-emphasize the immediate need for congressional action. As this body deliberates the form and size of a worker relief package, many working men and women are now searching for new jobs. They are beginning the application process for unemployment benefits. Quite frankly, they are wondering how they are going to buy their groceries, make their house payment, and pay for transportation. All of this, when our economy is at a downturn. The United States is facing a crisis, and it is not merely a security crisis. There is a visible, pressing need for worker relief. Just as this body acted swiftly to address the needs of the airline industry, we should also move quickly to enact assistance for America's displaced workers. I would also urge my colleagues to remember all workers that have been displaced in recent weeks. The dramatic decrease in travel and tourism affects not only those workers employed by the airline industry. No. Working men and women in the hospitality industry are facing massive layoffs. The same is true for restaurant workers and thousands of service sector employees. Close to 3 million jobs could be lost. In recent years, the safety net for these workers has begun to unravel. Passing a relief package for workers displaced by the tragic events of September 11 will give us the opportunity to begin to weave the safety net back together. I will do all that I can to ensure our safety net regains its strength now and maintains its strength in the future. I sincerely hope that my congressional colleagues and the President will do the same.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the most horrific attack in the United States history, we have seen many modern American heroes among us. Today's heroes are firefighters, police officers, chaplains, paramedics, steelworkers and those who have fought to prevent further destruction, and the families of the victims who display the strength of going on and living. Their heroism is in the spirit of those who have gone before them such as Martin Luther King, Junior, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Cesar Chavez, former founding president of the United Farm Workers. Today, Mr. Speaker, I proudly introduce this bill that will honor one of our past heroes, Cesar Estrada Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers and passionate champion of human and civil rights. These values and beliefs and dedication to all working men and women, regardless of socioeconomic background, make him truly an American hero. This bill will highlight his contributions by studying the ways to honor him within the National Park Service. It is a first step in honoring his tremendous accomplishments and the local communities where he placed his footprints. Cesar Chavez was a humble man. Little did anyone know of the greatness he would bestow upon future generations. In his early childhood, Cesar was raised as a farm worker in Yuma, Arizona. Raised during the Great Depression, his family lost everything and were forced to join thousands of farm workers that wandered the southwest just to find work. During his youth, the Chavez family migrated throughout the southwest working on various farms that fed our country. The young Cesar Chavez experienced firsthand the hardships and injustices of thousands of farm workers at that time. His home was barely livable and his school hardly fit to be called a schoolhouse. Unfair labor practices, harassment, abuse, long hours, low pay, hazardous working conditions and limited educational opportunities kept many farm workers from being self-sufficient and empowered citizens. Witnessing and experiencing this type of lifestyle, Cesar Chavez sought to make changes in the way farm workers were treated throughout the country. He united many others who suffered similar atrocities with those who empathized with the struggle and became a part of the union movement, and back in 1952, he left the fields and joined the Community Service Organization. There he conducted voter registration drives and campaigns against racial and economic discrimination. In 1962, he took that vast experience, his compassion, along with his brothers and sisters and developed a multiethnic struggle and started the National Farm Workers Association, which today is known as the United Farm Workers of America. The UFW, as it is known, succeeded in organizing the oppressed. They overcame this opposition through boycotts and pickets, and when all else failed, Cesar Chavez almost died by participating in a hunger strike. Chavez was a student of Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent philosophies. He knew that he could not unite people through violent means but he could connect them by joining hands in peaceful demonstrations. Since its inception the UFW has achieved incredible results throughout the country. Fair wages, better health care coverage, pension benefits, housing, pesticide regulations and countless other rights and privileges that protect all farm workers in the fields of the United States. In the past, we have honored other heroes like Martin Luther King, Jr., and the civil rights movement, through the national parks and land. The life of Cesar Chavez and his family provides an outstanding opportunity to interpret the history of agricultural labor in the United States through honoring him through this particular National Park Service. Most importantly, this bill that I introduced today provides an excellent opportunity for us to honor a true American hero.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to just reiterate that this is a good bill and ask my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) and the many other bipartisan cosponsors of House Concurrent Resolution 204 in urging our Members to support this important resolution today. Character education can play a vital role in shaping the lives and values of our children. However, character education is not a substitute for good parenting or meant to take the place of good parenting. It is simply another tool our communities and schools can use to facilitate the development of a young person's moral character. Many schools in the Los Angeles County area have recently taken up the cause of character education. Schools in my district are placing new emphasis on teaching young people about respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship and honesty. Recent incidents remind us about the need for character education among our young people. Unfortunately, in the last few weeks, in my own community, in the City of San Gabriel, a shopkeeper who had been a store owner there for over 20 years and a pillar of the community was shot to death at 3 p.m. in the afternoon by some young individuals. People have attacked and harassed individuals who look to be different or speak a different language or share a different religion. Young women in my district attending a local community college were recently harassed because they attended college wearing a Muslim scarf of over their head. And even before the tragedies of September 11, the City of Azusa, also in my congressional district, has been home to many hate crimes, Latinos and African American youth attacking each other. This has gone on for too long. I hope that further emphasis on responsibility, good citizenship, tolerance, and understanding will help to stem the tide of hate crimes in this country. House Concurrent Resolution 204 expresses the sense of Congress that a National Character Counts Week should be established and that the President should issue a proclamation on the topic of character education. The establishment of a National Character Counts Week will provide families, parents, children, students, community-based organizations, and civic groups the ability to focus on character education and its many benefits. In closing, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) for his leadership on this issue and urge the Members to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I join Congressman Henry Waxman to acknowledge the death of Dora Menchaca-Dorsey. Her death has brought great sorrow to family members in both of our districts. Dora Menchaca-Dorsey, was an unfortunate victim of American Airlines Flight 77 which crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Had Ms. Menchaca-Dorsey taken the later flight on which she was scheduled, she would have returned safely home to her husband, Earle Dorsey and 5- year-old son. Her daughter, Imani, was away at college in Oregon. Due to the airport shutdowns at the time, Imani Dorsey, drove from Portland to Los Angeles to be with her family. Ms. Menchaca-Dorsey also leaves behind a brother in San Gabriel. Sadly, Dora Menchaca-Dorsey's life was cut short while she was working to save the lives of others. Ms. Menchaca-Dorsey was in Washington, DC attending a briefing with the Food and Drug Administration on medical developments for patients with prostate cancer. She was a dedicated scientist who worked tirelessly to find a cure for some of today's deadliest diseases. Ironically, amidst such death, her co-workers remember her laughter and energy. She could also be maternal towards others, urging them to get regular health-care check-ups. Her husband, Earle Dorsey says he owns his life to his wife. Because of her insistence, his prostate cancer was diagnosed at an early stage. She also gave back to the community. Proud of her Mexican-American heritage, Dora Menchaca-Dorsey often visited schools to encourage students, especially minorities and girls, to pursue careers in the sciences. That is how we should all remember her. Menchaca-Dorsey was an energetic and dedicated individual who believed in and lived to find a cure for the diseases plaguing society. She was also a giving and loving wife and mother to her two children. Let us celebrate her memory by remembering what was contributed, not what was lost. Her contribution to the scientific world, to society, and to her family will not be soon forgotten.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge one of my constituents who was lost to us this past weekend in a tragic shooting. Mr. Adel Karas, a resident of Arcadia, was shot in his grocery store in San Gabriel on September 15, 2001 in an attempted robbery that the FBI is now investigating as a hate crime. Mr. Karas had owned and operated the International Market in San Gabriel for two decades. As a Coptic Christian, Mr. Karas fled his native Egypt in the 1970's to escape religious persecution. It is difficult to think that despite living in the United States for 20 years, he may have lost his life because the perpetrators targeted him based on his race. We will remember him as a warm and loving man who gave his best to his family and to his community. His family mourns his death and remembers him as a loving father to his sons and a good husband to his wife, Ronda Karas. Mr. Karas was also a care giver to his elderly parents, calling every day to check on their well-being. Furthermore, Mr. Karas was a respected businessman and appreciated by friends and neighbors. Our community mourns the loss of one of our own as is evident by the memorial filled with heart-felt cards and hundreds of flowers that has been created outside his storefront. I am saddened by the loss of such a fine member of our community and wish his family and loved ones my greatest sympathies by acknowledging him today. Let us remember Adel Karas as a genuine, kind, and loving son, father, husband, and American.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 1900. I stand here as a new member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. My heart is full, because I realize that this is such an important issue that needs to be addressed. In my district alone, in Los Angeles County, I represent the East Lake detention facility. I had the opportunity of visiting that facility a couple of months ago and realized that a good number of the children, youngsters, that are there represented my district. I felt compelled that we need to do something immediately to help them, prevent them from furthering a life of crime and hopefully deterring them into a better life-style. But I found that many of the young people, particular Latinos that I found there from my district, were experiencing some different kinds of hardships. Many of them at the age of 13 and 14 were already finding themselves as mothers. They were pregnant. I found that the treatment and medical attention that they needed to be prioritized. I asked the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) and other Members if they would please include an amendment in this bill to help address prenatal assistance in assessing these young women's needs. They adopted that. I also wanted to thank them for including another provision, suicide prevention. Many of the youngsters that I saw at these facilities were also coming from a life of hardship. Some of them were recent immigrants, coming from war-torn El Salvador and other Central American countries. Faced with that dilemma, many of them had this put before them, of how they were going to lead their lives, not having appropriate supervision by their parents and by our inadequate school system that does not provide enough counseling and after-school programs. This bill, I believe, in my opinion will do that. I want to thank the committee and I want to thank our leadership for taking the time to address these issues and including these two amendments in this bill. I ask for support of this legislation.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to again urge tolerance during this challenging time. In California, there have been over 70 acts of violence against individuals perceived to be of Arab or Muslim descent in the last week. My own district has served witness to one of these most abhorrent acts. An Egyptian shopkeeper in San Gabriel was shot to death Saturday in a potential hate crime. Adel Karas and his family had lived in San Gabriel for over 20 years and had become a welcome fixture in the community. In another act of ignorance, a Latino man was mistaken as an Arab and was pulled from his car and beaten. This misguided violence must cease.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the terrorist acts perpetrated in New York City and Washington, DC, I am heartened by the American people's extraordinary display of kindness and cooperation. I have been moved by how our diverse Nation has come together in a united show of support--men and women, children and adults, Christians and Muslims, Jews and Buddhists, Hindus and Catholics, Latinos and Caucasians, Asian Americans and African Americans. However, I am concerned about reports of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim acts committed by some in our communities. American Muslims and Arab Americans share our commitment to the American ideals of freedom, justice, and democracy. They live, work, and have established businesses in our communities. Their children attend schools alongside our children. They support our community organizations. They are our neighbors and our friends. Acts of discrimination only serve to divide our Nation and weaken our strength. Our Nation is made stronger when we embrace our diversity. We know that any discrimination stands in direct opposition to the ideals our founders set forth in the declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Today I joined my Congressional colleagues in cosponsoring a resolution condemning acts of hatred or discrimination against people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent. The resolution encourages ``people of every faith and heritage to stand together in this time of national crisis.'' I urge all United States citizens to reject misguided acts of prejudice and to continue their unwavering support for our Nation and its ideals of freedom and peace.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to express my sorrow, my horror, my anger about yesterday's attacks on the United States democracy. I offer my most sincere condolences to the victims and their families. I offer my support to the President, and to the many Federal, State and local agencies that are taking part in the ongoing investigation and rescue efforts. Today I stand with the entire United States Congress, and perhaps most importantly, stand alongside every other American citizen in a united and indivisible defense of our freedom. We know that our democracy will not falter during this test. Our democratic foundations, our government, and our people are too strong. Finally, I want to acknowledge the outpouring of sympathy and assistance the American people have generously provided during this crisis. My thoughts, my prayers and encouragement, are with the missing fire fighters in New York and the many rescue teams, the military and medical personnel here and in New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask the American public to continue donating blood and continue to fly our American flags. Continue to stand as one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to reemphasize the need for immigration reform in the United States. In recent days, we have heard lengthy discussions from opponents and proponents on this issue. I want to make sure that the people, the hardworking immigrants and the many families that I represent, are not lost in that debate. Millions of immigrants have lived here for an extended period of time. They go to work every single day. They pay taxes just like you and me. They own homes and many own businesses, and many have played by the rules. They also have children who are U.S. citizens. These people deserve respect. They deserve to be acknowledged for the many contributions that they have made to this great country. Mexican President Vicente Fox has done a superb job of highlighting the need for immigration reform. He recognizes the immense contributions all immigrants make to the U.S. economy and to foreign economies such as his own, and a majority of U.S. citizens recognize the important contributions that immigrants have made to this country. A recent bipartisan poll found that 62 percent of voters support legalization for immigrants who pay taxes, break no laws, and play by the rules. I ask for this Congress to begin discussions, as President Fox stated yesterday at the White House, to begin discussions on immigration reform.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate a very special non-profit organization--El Proyecto del Barrio--on its 30th anniversary. Founded in 1971, El Proyecto del Barrio has become the San Fernando Valley's leading agency for providing comprehensive community health and human services to Latinos and other economically disadvantaged populations. El Proyecto has demonstrated excellence in delivering primary healthcare services, substance abuse treatment, youth services and employment and training services to the community. El Proyecto's work in caring for the ``whole person'' has been honored regionally and nationally. El Proyecto's capability to implement programs has been demonstrated during its 30-year history of developing and implementing culturally appropriate programs designed to serve the target population. This is evident by El Proyecto's most recent accomplishments. Since 1998, El Proyecto has constructed and opened the Mark Taper Center for a Healthy Community, located in Winnetka, CA. The Center houses the El Proyecto primary health care clinic, which provides 36,000 medical visits per year. The Center also houses the El Proyecto Youth Opportunities program, the Perinatal Service Center and the Family Development Network. Also, El Proyecto has developed and opened two new facilities--the Sun Valley One-stop Center in 1999 and the Youth Opportunity Program in 2000. Once again, I congratulate and commend the staff and supporters of El Proyecto del Barrio for their commitment to providing comprehensive community health services and for serving the Latino and other economically disadvantaged youth and adults of the San Fernando Valley.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a friend of both myself and the environment--Kip Lipper. Kip has worked for the California legislature for 23 years, and I worked closely with him when I was an Assembly member. He is currently the chief of staff for California State Senator Byron Sher and the staff director to the California Senate's Committee on Environmental Quality. Kip has assisted Senator Sher, one of the state's leading environmental legislators, in drafting and enacting into law legislation on a variety of subjects including the California Clean Air Act, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, the California Beverage Container Recycling Act and the Integrated Waste Management Act. As a consultant to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and Assembly Natural Resources Committee, Kip wrote and analyzed legislation affecting air quality, energy conservation and development, recycling, solid waste management, waste-to-energy project development and the California Environmental Quality Act. On behalf of my constituents and the environmental community of California, I want to pay tribute to Kip and thank him for his outstanding work on behalf of the environment.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 332 on H.R. 2563, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an international friendship that began many years, has withstood the test of time and continues to grow as each year passes. The Sister City Partnership between the City of Irwindale, California, in the 31st Congressional District and the City of Salvatierra, Guanajuato, Mexico, began 36 years ago. Through this partnership, both communities have realized cultural and humanitarian benefits. For example, the City of Salvatierra has received donations from Irwindale of much-needed equipment such as a fire engine, ambulance, street sweeper and optical instruments to improve the quality of life for its citizens. In addition, Irwindale has experienced first-hand the benefits of cultural exchange and good will through the bi-annual visits of its residents to Mexico. In fact, a local park in Salvatierra, Mexico, was named after the City of Irwindale. I am privileged to recognize these two exemplary cities, Irwindale and Salvatierra, for their friendship and exchanges that benefit residents in both cities.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Communications Director, Randy Jurado Ertll, who is leaving today to resume his work on immigration and community issues in the Los Angeles area. Randy, who was born in the United States and spent his early years in El Salvador, moved to the Los Angeles area as a young boy. After graduating from Occidental College, Randy returned to El Salvador to research the Salvadoran economic system and find ways to promote financial stability amongst the countries' small businesses. Once he returned to the United States, Randy continued to promote the well-being of the Salvadoran community by co-founding the Salvadoran American Political Action Committee. The PAC seeks to endorse and support candidates for political office who will promote the political and economic well-being of the Salvadoran American/Latino Community in the United States. In 1996, Randy joined the California League of Conservation Voters as a new voter organizer, working to increase Latino voter turnout and educate new voters on environmental issues. He also became a regular editorial contributor on educational, environmental and political dealings to La Opinion, the largest Spanish newspaper in the United States. After gaining considerable experience with the Southern California media industry, Randy joined my staff last year as the Communications Director. Given his personal knowledge with immigration issues, he also tackled this important issue for my Congressional office, including serving as my staff liaison to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. For the past eight months, Randy has helped to ensure that immigrants in the 31st Congressional District are afforded the rights to which they are entitled. He has also worked to make sure that all of the residents of my district are informed about the important work that we do here in Washington, D.C. Now, I wish him the best of luck as he returns to Los Angeles, to his community and to his dear fiancee.