Hilda Solis

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to rise in strong support of H.R. 3221, title I, the Green Jobs Act. I am here to tell you that we have a shortage of technically skilled, trained workers to get into these high-tech jobs and green-collar jobs. We think that all Americans should be able to participate. This bill will allow for 3 million workers here to be able to enjoy this kind of training and advancement. We would open up the doors in our communities of color, those that are disadvantaged. We would allow for community colleges, vocational education, and labor-intensive apprenticeship programs to be a vehicle to help enhance this workforce that is so direly needed in our country.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, today I urge my colleagues to support this amendment that I'm offering with my colleagues, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Carnahan and Mr. Kirk. Climate impacts on developing countries could increase stresses on natural resources such as water, drought and agriculture and compromise public health for the world. Unfortunately, developing nations often have weak or unstable domestic infrastructures magnifying these impacts. The growing security risk of an unstable climate have been widely noted. On April 17, 2007, the U.N. Security Council held an open debate on the issue of national security and climate change. The issue was also subject of discussion at the Winter Parliamentary Assembly meeting of the OSCE, which I'm a participant in, on February 2007 where I was able to talk about and give a key address on our bipartisan efforts here in the U.S. House. A military advisory board, which included General Anthony Zinni, Admiral Richard Truly, Admiral Lopez and General Gordon Sullivan, concluded that climate change is the threat multiplier for instability and could push already weak and failing governments toward authoritarianism and radical ideologies. As a result, the U.S. may be drawn more frequently into these situations to either provide stability or reconstruction. This amendment, Members, builds on the recognition and requires the Department of State, the Agency for International Development, the Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant agencies to assess specific needs of developing countries in adapting to climate changes. Based on the assessment, our amendment requires a strategy be submitted to the Congress to address these needs, including identification of existing funding and new funding sources which may be required for such purposes. Please join us in building a foundation to secure developing countries from instability associated with climate change. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SOLIS. Reclaiming my time, I would just like to submit that this is a study bill, and that we are exploring the possibilities of funding here. I would next like to recognize the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) for 30 seconds.

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to Mr. Gilchrest, who is also one of our major cosponsors of the legislation.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise very proudly in strong support of H.R. 3162, the CHAMP Act. As policymakers, we have an obligation to make sure that children who are in the program do not lose their coverage and that those who are eligible for coverage but are not enrolled receive that care. Millions of low-income children and seniors are depending on us to pass a bill so they can receive health care. The CHAMP Act will provide health care to 11 million poor children, reduce health care disparities in communities of color, and protect senior citizens who rightfully need access to their physicians. Insured children are more likely to receive cost-effective, preventative services and are healthier, which leads to greater success in school and later on in life. Although programs such as SCHIP and Medicaid have decreased the number of uninsured children, the lack of funding over the last 10 years and outreach efforts have left millions of children who are eligible from receiving this care. More than 80 percent of uninsured African American and 70 percent of uninsured Latino children are eligible currently for public coverage but are not currently enrolled. In my district alone, 18,000 children go uninsured. The bill ensures that these children will receive that health care coverage. Some would argue that this bill is a vote on immigration. I'm sorry, but they are absolutely wrong. The bill restores State's options to provide the coverage that they need; and the bill ensures that citizens who have lost their birth certificates and other identification are not immediately denied care, like the more than 11,000 children in Virginia and 14,000 children in Kansas who have lost their coverage. The bill helps one-third of Asian and Pacific Islander American seniors who live in linguistic isolation understand health care. The bill does not provide services, and I underscore, does not provide services to undocumented immigrants. Those who say that are blatantly wrong. I urge support of the bill. Let's move on. Let's do the right thing for our children. Vote for the CHAMP Act.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday House Democrats introduced legislation that will provide additional low-income children with health insurance coverage they need and deserve. The Children's Health and Medicare Protection, or CHAMP, Act would reauthorize an extremely effective State Children's Health Insurance Program, known to many as the SCHIP program, which will expire September 30 if Congress does not act. If SCHIP is allowed to expire, millions of our American children could lose their health insurance. In a letter issued last weekend, bipartisan Governors at the National Governors Association meeting called for urgent action to reauthorize SCHIP. They know, as do Democrats in Congress, that this program is vital for ensuring children in low-income families to have better access to health care. That is why passing the CHAMP Act is so important. Mr. Speaker, SCHIP was created almost 10 years ago by this Congress with bipartisan support and now enjoys the support of many Governors across the other aisle. I hope Republicans in this body will listen to their gubernatorial colleagues and join us in passing the new CHAMP Act.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to discuss the Fifth Annual Congressional Tri-Caucus Minority Health Summit which will be held this weekend in San Diego. Hosted by the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, the event is an opportunity for Members of Congress to learn from health experts, grass roots advocates and innovative solutions and address health disparities in communities of color. I'm proud that 11 Members from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Black Caucus and Asian Caucus will join me and health advocates in San Diego. We're prepared to discuss issues such as expanding the SCHIP program, HIV and AIDS, homelessness, foster care, border health and veterans care, along with that discussing chronic illnesses that face many communities of color that are low income and disadvantaged That's why my Tri-Caucus colleagues and I recently introduced H.R. 3014, the Health Equity and Accountability Act, a comprehensive bipartisan legislation which addresses health care disparities. As Chair of the Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Health and the Environment, I look forward to this event and bringing a new direction to this Congress.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 636 on H.R. 2641 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Announcement by the Acting Chairman

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the rule and also the underlying bill, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act. We can't afford to spend $10 billion a month on this failed war and continue to see the loss of lives, 3,600 now. From my district alone, 14 individuals have not come home to see their families. 27,000 have come home injured from the war. I want to tell you that in March I had the opportunity to visit some of our troops in Iraq, many from California representing southern California's San Gabriel Valley. Many of them told me they did not have appropriate equipment, that they were there for an insurmountable time, many on their second, third and fourth tour. One family member from the City of Azusa told me that he had not even seen his child. It had been already 14 months. I would ask Members of Congress to remember who our constituents are. I have the adjoining district next to Congressman Dreier. In my district alone, 4-1 in a survey said, Republican and Democrat, we want the Congress to get us out of the war. I ask for support of our bill and the rule.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. Not since 1944, with the GI Bill, has Congress taken such a proactive step in ensuring that millions of Americans can attend higher education institutes. It is time to start providing our students with the aid needed to keep America competitive by strengthening the middle class and increasing diversity on our campuses. H.R. 2669 will allow middle class and minority families to have access to quality education by increasing grant aid and lessening the burden of loans. Along with H.R. 5, this legislation ensures that our students will finally have the funding for higher education that has long been denied them. This bill will increase the Pell Grant by $500, benefiting 646,000 students in my home state of California. In addition, 6.8 million students nationwide who take out need-based federal student loans would see the interest rates cut in half, providing California alone with over $1.4 billion more in loan and Pell aid. H.R. 2669 not only puts and keeps students in college--it strengthens our communities by providing financial assistance to people entering public service careers, like nurses, police, firefighters, first responders, and teachers. For students in Los Angeles, this is real dollars in the pockets of those who need it most. Since 1980 the Latino population in the United States has doubled, but Latinos attending college has only increased 5 percent during this same period. Latinos continue to face numerous obstacles on the road to college. Low family incomes, low financial aid awards and a reluctance to assume debt has hindered Latinos for too long in achieving their higher education goals. The College Cost Reduction Act helps support those institutions helping Latino students by guaranteeing $500 million over 5 years for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Tribal Colleges. Financial assistance was critical to my ability to obtain a higher education and I am proud that H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, will help Latinos and other low income students get the financial security to pursue their dreams. I strongly support this legislation that invests in our students, our communities and our Nation.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 359, the Cesar Chavez Study Act, and urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, you know that the National Park System units are important components of our Nation's historic, cultural and economic and recreation and social identity. H.R. 359 authorizes a study to determine whether sufficient historic resources still exist, so that the story of Cesar Chavez could be added to the National Park System. I first introduced this legislation more than 6 years ago to honor the important contributions he made to the environment and to help the National Park Service finally recognize a significant Hispanic leader. Since then, I have worked hard with my colleagues to bring this bill to the floor. I would like to personally thank Chairman Rahall and Chairman Grijalva for their support, and the staff of the committee. Cesar Estrada Chavez was a second-generation American. He was born in the United States March 31, 1927 in Yuma, Arizona, and raised during the Great Depression. The lessons he learned during his time inspired him to dedicate his life to improving the lives of others less fortunate even than himself. Chavez led by action. He was a student of Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent philosophy, and believed that non-violence was one of the most powerful tools to achieve change, including social and economic justice and equality. In 1968 he fasted for 25 days, Mr. Speaker, one of many fasts he held to demonstrate a commitment to non-violence through sacrifice and penance. He was a deeply religious man. Through his work, Cesar Chavez changed the course of history for thousands of Latinos and Hispanics and farm workers in this country. Farm workers have been empowered now to fight for fair wages, health care coverage, pension benefits, housing improvements, pesticide and health regulations and countless other protections for their health and well-being. These changes have meant considerably improvements for the life of farm workers and their families, in fact, three fourths of which are Hispanic or Latino. During his 66 years with us, Chavez made a significant difference in the lives of those he touched, well beyond improvements for farm workers. And at an early age, I too was inspired by Cesar Chavez's work on behalf of farm workers and the environmental justice movement. This includes protecting green space in both urban and rural areas so that all communities can enjoy the benefits of recreation. Chavez strongly understood the importance of land and the value of the environment in connection to one's health and economic stability. For many Hispanics, this appreciation of the environment is cultural; 96 percent of Hispanics believe that the environment should be an important priority for this country, yet there is not one single unit of the National Park System dedicated to Hispanics. And as a result of Chavez's belief exhibited through his actions, I was moved to introduce this legislation and believe it important that we preserve the history through our National Park System. It is my hope that one day Hispanic families all have a place in the National Park Service where they can appreciate, honor and learn about Cesar Chavez's work, his beliefs, just as we do now in celebration with African American families who can now visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. historical site and Selma-Montgomery trail. The significance of Chavez's life and work is widely recognized. The Department of Labor has honored Chavez in the Labor Hall of Fame, and the Bush administration, as you heard, supports this legislation. I won't list all the supporters, but there are more than 20 organizations nationally recognized who support this legislation. In fact, at his funeral, Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles called Chavez, and I quote, ``a special prophet for the world's farm workers.'' In 1994, Chavez's widow, Helen, accepted the Medal of Freedom from President Clinton, who lauded Chavez for facing a ``formidable, often violent opposition with dignity and non-violence.'' It is my hope that through this legislation, future generations can understand who Cesar Chavez was, and why the work that he did was so important, know that they too can be courageous and work toward the betterment of all mankind. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, did you know that our planet is showing the disconcerting signs of global climate change? That should serve as a wake-up call to all of us. Scientists have found that 11 and 12 of the warmest years on record have occurred since 1995. The water in our lakes and rivers has warmed, and ice is being lost in the Arctic Sea at unprecedented rates. Steps should be taken to stop or reverse these trends as soon as possible, and the Democratic Congress is doing just that as a part of the Interior and Environmental appropriations bill. The legislation includes provisions to focus our efforts on global climate change by establishing a commission of the government's top scientific experts tasked with identifying key areas of scientific research and empowering them with the resources to finance their work. It also provides for funding, over the President's request, for clean water funds, reducing diesel emissions, clean air grants, and ensuring that environmental laws and justice and regulations are followed. Mr. Speaker, the Democratic Congress is committed to taking steps necessary to protect our natural resources and address global climate change. There's still time to save our planet.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong opposition to a free trade agreement with Colombia. The Colombian Government has ties with paramilitary organizations and international criminal networks. Each year more unionists are killed in Colombia than the rest of the world combined, many at the hands of country paramilitaries. Yet Colombia is not willing to investigate these murders and prosecute perpetrators. In 2006, seventy-two trade unionists were assassinated. The perpetrators continue to enjoy 98 percent impunity. Colombia's labor laws also do not conform with ILO recommendations. A trade agreement with Colombia, in my opinion, could cost more U.S. jobs and increase our debt. It would further impoverish rural communities in Colombia and reduce access by Colombians to new medicines. A U.S. trade policy should promote a democracy based on protection of fundamental human rights, and not a race to the bottom. I urge my colleagues to reject a trade agreement with Colombia.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to voice my strong disapproval of the Supreme Court's decision last week that effectively endorsed pay discrimination against women. Pay equity is a problem for women around the country, but especially for women of color, women who look like me. On average, African American women earn only 64 cents for every dollar and Latinas earn only 52 cents on the dollar compared to their white male counterparts. We need to protect the rights of workers, to remedy wage discrimination, and do more to close the pay gap between men and women. That is why I cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would give teeth to the Equal Pay Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act would entitle the plaintiffs to backpay, compensatory, and punitive damages for ``intentional'' wage discrimination. Without serious penalties for wage discrimination, violations will continue and working men and women and their families will suffer. We can and must fix the Equal Pay Act so workers all around can be fairly compensated for wage discrimination, and we must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to close the wage gap.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, tonight I stand here today to honor the contribution of immigrants that have been made to our Nation, particularly defending our Nation in support of comprehensive immigration reform. We need effective legislation that strikes the right balance between national security and reforming our current immigration system. This should include a path to permanency for millions of law abiding and tax paying immigrants who call the United States their home. It's my hope that the Senate finalizes debating their immigration reform bill, and that our Chamber continues to work to adopt legislation that will truly reform the system and enhance our Nation's security. Immigrant families are an important part of our social fabric and our economy. Undocumented workers, you may not know, contribute as much as $7 billion a year in Social Security into our system and $1.5 billion in Medicare every year, yet do not collect those benefits. Immigrants, you may know, play an important role in defending our Nation. In all of our wars throughout our history, immigrants have fought side by side and have given their lives to defending America's freedoms and ideals. Twenty percent of the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest honor that our Nation bestows on our war heroes, has been granted to sons and daughters of immigrants. Their bravery is proof that immigrants are as willing as any other Americans to defend our country's freedom, and their service is no less important and valuable because of their immigrant status. For example, as of May 2006, 33,449 noncitizens served in our Armed Forces, and more than 26,000 servicemembers have become U.S. citizens since the Iraq war began, and 75 servicemembers received posthumous citizenship. Immigrants make up 5 percent of all enlisted personnel on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, and immigrants continue to demonstrate that they are a part of this country through their service in the military. Without the contribution of immigrants the military, as we know it today, could not meet its own recruiting goals. Without the assistance of immigrants, the military could not fill the need for foreign language translators, interpreters and cultural experts. Immigrants provide unique incredibly valuable contributions to the military, and it's critical that we continue to recognize and appreciate their efforts and that of their families. In the district I represent in California, we've unfortunately suffered several casualties, including that of immigrant servicemembers who gave their lives for our country. One is the fallen Marine Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores who died while serving overseas in Iraq. At the age of 21, and only 2 weeks away from gaining U.S. citizenship, Francisco was killed in the line of duty. He was one of thousands of lawful permanent residents who have volunteered their service to protect the United States by joining the U.S. military. On April 2003, Francisco was granted posthumous U.S. citizenship and Congress honored his memory by passing a bill that I authored to celebrate his life in the City of Duarte by naming a Post Office after him. But in 2003, Sergeant Atanacio Haro-Marin, from the City of Baldwin Park, from my district from California also died in Iraq. He came under heavy enemy fire. This young man was born in Zacatecas, Mexico and moved to Los Angeles at 2 years of age. He'll be remembered as a proud and courageous soldier who was living out a long held dream of serving in the U.S. military and will be honored by having a Post Office named after him in the City of Baldwin Park. The sacrifices that my constituents made inspired me to pursue legislation to help other legal permanent residents who risk their lives every day and die protecting our country's liberties and values, achieve the dream of becoming a citizen. And in 2003, I introduced the Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act. The bill, which was included in the Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report, was signed into law, and recognizes the enormous contributions of immigrants in the military by providing them with easier access to naturalization and immediate family immigration protections for those killed in action. It is a tribute to them and their families and all veterans for the enormous sacrifices they've made so we and others around the world can live in freedom. I'm proud today to tell you that I support our military men and women, and especially those that continue to serve us that are legal permanent residents. We need to see an immigration reform program come forward that is comprehensive, and salute soldiers such as this who have given their ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 364 on Andrews of New Jersey amendment on H.R. 1585, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to opportunities of job growth and hopefully eradicating poverty through a green economy. A major national investment in renewable energy could create potentially 3.5 million green-collar jobs over the next 10 years. We must say to America's workers, particularly those in urban and rural underserved communities, there is a place for you in the green economy. Investment should not only be improving infrastructure, but improving economic opportunities for all. That is why I am proud to be working with Congressman John Tierney and others to create a green jobs bill that will create pathways out of poverty. Job training can lead to self-sufficiency and prosperity through higher wages, access to benefits and more career choices. Other cities and States throughout the country have taken the lead to shape the new economy, which is creating demand for green products and services. Under Speaker Pelosi's leadership, Congress has taken steps to ensure our Nation has a secure energy future. I hope that ensuring underserved communities achieve economic security can be a part of this green future.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of legislation that I recently introduced, H.R. 1968, the Community Health Workers Act of 2007. The bill provides Federal support for community health workers, also known as promotoras. Community health workers conduct education and provide prevention information on chronic illnesses to communities of color, the Asian, Latino, African American and even Native American communities. They are able to reach out to patients in ways that traditional health care providers can't, through culturally and linguistically appropriate care. They are trusted by their communities. Families who interacted with community workers were eight times more likely to obtain health insurance for their children, and their children stayed insured. That is why I strongly believe that the community health workers need to be part of the SCHIP reauthorization bill moving forward in the House. As the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Health Task Force, I am committed to reducing health care disparities in our country. The legislation will help achieve that goal, and I am proud to have the support of other colleagues here today.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to voice my strong support for the families and women who have been murdered in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City in Mexico. I have always believed that violence against women anywhere is an attack on women everywhere. Just 5 minutes from the U.S. border in Ciudad Juarez in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, over 400 women and girls have been brutally murdered over the last 14 years. In today's Washington Post, which I will submit for the Record, I read the story of mothers of victims whose fight for justice has lasted well over a decade. Because of the gross negligence and failure of local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute the murders, the statute of limitations is starting to run out on some of the earlier murders of women in Ciudad Juarez. What a disgrace, if we cannot solve the murders of these over-450 women. Women and young girls from all parts of Mexico moved to Ciudad Juarez in hopes of finding work, including jobs at American-owned companies known in Spanish as maquiladoras. These jobs involve late hours, forcing women to travel home in the dark, alone, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Many of these young women are under the age of 25. They are the sole earners and income earners for their families. Their brothers and fathers are not employed by maquilas, because the maquiladores choose to hire these young women, who they know will not speak out about their rights or condemn the treatment of these women in the workplace. That is why I introduced a resolution to address the murders of women and girls in Ciudad Juarez some 3 years ago, and I am happy to report that H.R. 90 was passed by this Congress and there is recognition now on the value and faith that we have in the families in Ciudad Juarez. I bring that out because I say to you and to the public, when we can fight for the rights of women in the Taliban and the Middle East, why can't we fight also honorably for the women who live 5 minutes from this border, many of whom are relatives to us, our constituents, related to families that we represent? It is about time that we change the discussion and direction about this debate that we have with our friends south of the border. I am proud to be a descendant of friends south of the border, but I also have to say that there has to be some changes in terms of how we deal with women who are being abused, attacked, and mutilated. It is time that our governments come together. I ask that Condoleezza Rice and our President weigh in, as well as the new President of Mexico, Mr. Calderon, the President of Mexico, who says this is a priority for him to combat violence against women. I hope that we can do that. In 2003 and 2004, I organized a congressional delegation trip to Ciudad Juarez with families of victims, government officials, human rights advocates, newspaper reporters and indeed also the FBI. It was in these trips that my dedication to helping the women of Ciudad Juarez was solidified. Families of violence deserve answers and closure instead of either being ignored or harassed for asking for justice to find out where their daughters' bodies lay and where those remains are. I am sad to report that even though we have asked for assistance from outside of our Nation through the OAS, through a forensic group in Argentina to help identify the bodies and remains of these young women, that it hasn't been as successful as I would have hoped. I would ask our government to please weigh in again to provide the technical support that is needed to help identify the remains of these young women so that families can have some closure. Again, any assault on a woman, murder, mutilation or what have you, is an assault on all mankind; and we as Members of Congress should no less have any interest into what happens south of the border. The convictions in many cases of these individuals that were so- called blamed for these murders were overturned. There wasn't a judge or anyone that would convict anyone of doing these heinous crimes. I have to say to myself and to the public and to this Congress, why have 450 women who have disappeared from their families, from their homes, somehow not found justice? I just want to remind individuals that the work goes on, that we need help to solve the murders in Ciudad Juarez, and ask our government, both governments, Mexico and the U.S., to find some resolution here. [From the Washington Post, May 14, 2007] Waning Hopes in Juarez (By Manuel Roig-Franzia) Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.--For 13 years, June 14 has brought tears, tortured memories and enduring pain to Griselda Salas. It was on that date, in 1993, that her 16-year-old sister, Guadalupe Ivonne Salas, disappeared. Guadalupe Ivonne's body turned up less than a week later in a park in this dusty, wind-swept industrial city near the U.S.-Mexico border. Guadalupe Ivonne, who was raped and strangled, was one of the first victims in Mexico's grisliest modern-day crime mystery--the murders of more than 400 women in the past 14 years in Ciudad Juarez, many of the bodies dumped in the desert, horribly mutilated. The killings, mostly of poor young factory workers, have inspired two Hollywood motion pictures and enraged human rights groups, which have filled volumes with accusations of corruption, botched investigations and official negligence. Yet the mystery remains unsolved. Now the earliest of these cases are quietly slipping off legal dockets because Mexico, unlike the United States and many European countries, has a statute of limitations for murder. At a time when U.S. prosecutors are resurrecting civil rights-era murder cases--some more than 40 years old-- Mexico is closing murder cases forever after 14 years. With each passing day, it appears likely that a legal technicality may end a quest to unravel a string of slayings that shocked the world. ``It is totally and absolutely grotesque to think that murderers could be enjoying their freedom because of this law,'' said Jaime Garcia Chavez, a Chihuahua state legislator who is pressing to abolish Mexico's statute of limitations. ``It is inexcusable.'' Once filled with optimism, buoyed by support from the likes of actresses Jane Fonda and Sally Field, feminists and lawmakers here are demoralized. Esther Chavez Cano, founder of Juarez's first rape and domestic violence counseling center, laments ``a worrying silence'' about cases that once commanded banner headlines. Few here are optimistic, even though the looming deadlines for dozens of Juarez cases have set off a last-minute race to revive long-dormant investigations. An Argentine forensics team commissioned to look into the murders, drawing on experience from investigations of Argentina's ``dirty war'' and the Salvadoran civil war, is expected to release a damning report later this year that will illustrate the almost impossible task faced by prosecutors. The Argentines have found body parts carelessly left for years on the floors of medical examiner's offices, heads with no matching bodies, bodies with no matching heads and a mishmash of unlabeled corpses tossed into mass graves at paupers' cemeteries. ``It's basically a huge mess,'' forensic archaeologist Mercedes Doretti, the team leader, said in an interview. Garcia Chavez's effort to give investigators more time to untangle that mess by extending the statute of limitations, a gambit he considers a long shot, has already come too late for Jesica Elizalde, a slain journalist whose murder case expired March 14. The case of a factory worker, Luz Yvonne de la O Garcia, went off the books April 21, as did the murder of an unidentified woman on May 12. Dozens more will follow in the coming months and years. The next could be Guadalupe Ivonne Salas, though prosecutors say they may be closing in on a suspect--a promise that her family is reluctant to believe after years of dashed hopes. Salas, a petite 16-year-old, shared a single bed in a cinder-block shack with her infant daughter and her mother, Vicky Salas. The family, like thousands of others, was drawn to Ciudad Juarez by the maquiladoras--assembly plants, most of them owned by U.S. companies--that sprang up blocks from the border because of an abundance of cheap labor and that transformed the town into the fourth-most-populous city in Mexico. Young women were especially prized by factory supervisors because they were considered more reliable and less rowdy than men. Almost overnight, women were making money while men were still struggling to find jobs, leading to resentment in the local macho culture that activists cite as a social undercurrent to the slayings. Salas walked each day down a treeless dirt road, past piles of rotting garbage and shacks with sagging walls, to catch a bus that took her to a television part manufacturer. She made about $35 a week, sometimes pulling night shifts and returning home to a neighborhood with no streetlights. The day that she disappeared should have been joyous; she was getting ready to celebrate her daughter's first birthday. Griselda Salas remembers her sister saying that a friend was going to lend her money to buy presents and party supplies. ``She's probably gone off with some stud,'' Griselda Salas remembers being told by police when her sister did not return home. ``You watch, she'll come back pregnant with a fat belly in a few months.'' Vicky Salas was on a religious retreat at the time of her daughter's disappearance. When she returned several days later, members of her church were in tears. ``They've found a dead girl,'' she remembers her friends telling her. ``They think it's Ivonne.'' A car accident delayed Vicky Salas's trip to the morgue, which was closed when she arrived. An unsmiling police officer told her, ``You'll have to come back tomorrow,'' and no amount of pleading by a panic-stricken mother could change his mind, she recalled. Even as the death toll rose, victims' families continued to complain about insensitive investigators. One state attorney general suggested that the women encouraged their attackers by dressing provocatively. Other officials implied that the victims were prostitutes, living ``double lives,'' though their mothers insisted they were poor factory workers. ``They called them the morenitas,'' Juarez police criminologist Oscar Maynez said in an interview, invoking a derogatory term that was in vogue at the time and roughly translates to ``little brown ones.'' No one cared about investigating their deaths. There was clear sexism and classism.'' Mexican federal authorities and international human rights organizations that have investigated the cases have accused local authorities in Ciudad Juarez and the state of Chihuahua of covering up evidence and failing to properly investigate crimes for a decade and a half. The Washington Office on Latin America, or WOLA, a Washington-based human rights organization, has said the true killers may have been protected by authorities who tortured innocents to confess to the killings. Victims' families have been subjected to harassment. ``One relative of a murder victim received a threatening voicemail message warning her to drop the case; the caller ID showed the call had come from the state judicial police,'' a WOLA report said. Flor Rocio Munguia Gonzalez, the special prosecutor for what has become known as the femicides in Juarez, said in an interview that such offenses are ``things of the past'' and that she has more than tripled her investigative staff to solve old cases before the time limits expire and to track down those responsible for the ongoing killings of women in Juarez. ``I take great satisfaction in our efforts--we're doing everything we can,'' said Munguia Gonzalez, who has been in office since February 2006. After seeing eight special prosecutors come and go with no results, local activists are not impressed. Maureen Meyer, a WO-LA analyst, said that a special federal investigator had found that 130 public officials had either been negligent or abused their authority during the murder investigations, but none has been disciplined. ``There's a real failure to hold them accountable,'' Meyer said in an interview. Maynez, the criminologist, said he believes a powerful network of police, municipal officials and organized crime figures still protects the killers. He resigned from the job for a short time, after being asked to help frame two bus drivers in one of the cases. He refused, but the two men were arrested anyway. One died in suspicious circumstances during a jailhouse surgery. The other was released after testifying that he had been tortured by police into confessing. An attorney for the bus drivers was killed by Chihuahua state police in a drive-by shooting in 2005, four days after vowing to file a corruption complaint. The police said the shooting was a case of mistaken identity. Skepticism is growing as the Argentine forensics team nears the conclusion of its inquiry. The team has discovered that forensics officials in Ciudad Juarez boiled the corpses of some victims, destroying crucial DNA. The group also has found that the families of at least three victims received the wrong bodies for burial. ``The authorities just sealed the coffins and told the families not to ask any questions,'' said Doretti, the lead forensics investigator. The Juarez families, Doretti said, have insisted that no evidence be sent to Mexican laboratories. Instead, Doretti has sent samples to a U.S. lab; she is expecting results soon. The new forensic evidence and the approach of the statute of limitations deadlines are the sorts of developments that once would have prompted demonstrations in downtown Juarez. But the mothers who for years have pleaded for justice are exhausted, aging and in poor health. The case of Silvia Morales, who was killed when she was 16, will expire in less than two years. Her mother, Ramona Morales, had been one of the most vocal critics in a protest movement of victim relatives, but is now suffering from diabetes and a bad knee. ``I can't do it anymore,'' she said one recent afternoon, tears trickling down her face. Eva Arce, whose daughter Silvia Arce disappeared in 1998, was twice beaten by thugs after demonstrations demanding justice. She spends her days clipping newspaper articles about a new generation of murdered women in Juarez and writing poems. ``A tortured soul pours from a river of blood,'' she said one recent afternoon, reading from her notebook. That same day, the newspaper El Norte of Ciudad Juarez carried a photograph of a pretty, dark-haired young woman. She didn't look so different from Silvia Arce or Silvia Morales or Guadalupe Ivonne Salas. The caption read: ``Edith Aranda Longoria, 729 days since she was last seen.''

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the winner of this year's California's 32nd Congressional District Congressional ``Artistic Discovery'' competition and the contribution of all the people that made this event possible. As a Member of Congress, I am proud to support the artistic talent of our local youth by being part of ``An Artistic Discovery.'' This year students from 16 high schools in California's 32nd Congressional District submitted 186 pieces of work for Artistic Discovery. The winner of the competition was Jose Curiel from Arroyo High School, a resident of El Monte, California, for his piece titled ``All Alone.'' Jose will be invited to Washington, DC, for the ribbon- cutting ceremony, and will have his artwork displayed in the Cannon Tunnel for 1 year. I am proud of Jose, all the runners up and honorable mentions, and all the youth who participated for sharing their talent with the community. I would also like to thank the 2007 Artistic Discovery Committee for their support for the arts, for their dedication to California's 32nd Congressional District and their young talent, and for a successful ``Artistic Discovery'' competition. This event could not have been possible without the time and support of the 2007 Artistic Discovery Committee. This year's committee has truly set a standard with their hard work. I would like to recognize and thank this year's committee: Denise Tornatore from the Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education School, who served as the Chair of the Committee; Carol Facciponti from Carousel Reality; Pascual Garrido from SCE Federal Credit Union; Irene Portillo from Project Amiga; Billy Rugh from Creative Planet School of the Arts; Michael Carney from AT&T; Elizabeth Bagwell from City of Hope; Kristen Pugh from City of Hope; Marianna Lake from the Valley County Water District; Dr. Ramon Zavala from Baldwin Park Unified; Marissa Castro from Southern California Edison; Helen Romero Shaw from the Gas Company; Nadia Andrade from UPS; Shirley Batman from Bank of America; Michelle Bart from Helping Heroes Productions; Kevin McDonald from Foothill Transit; and, Debbie Guerra from AT&T Pioneers. Just as important as the committee's dedication to California's 32nd District's ``An Artistic Discovery'' competition is the dedication of all the teachers of the participating schools. All our teachers deserve a big thank you for recognizing and supporting the talented students that participated in this event and encouraging them to submit their artwork. I thank all of our teachers for the work and generosity they give each and every day in the classroom. These submitted pieces of artwork are a testament to the energy, enthusiasm, encouragement and support that our teachers are providing. The artwork that was submitted to California's 32nd District's artistic competition was awe-inspiring. I commend all the students who participated for using their talents in such a positive way and sharing those talents with others. I look forward to next year's ``An Artistic Discovery'' art competition and encourage all the supporters to continue with their good work.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for allowing me the opportunity to speak this afternoon. I strongly support the rule. I strongly support our men and women in uniform who are courageously fighting to defend our freedoms. In my own district, we lost 14 soldiers. My recent trip to Iraq confirmed that to support our troops is to support their redeployment. Our troops told me they were overextended and underequipped. Many are on their second, third and fourth tour. They face increased risk without proper equipment and longer stays. In fact, not enough equipment was available for those new incoming soldiers that were just deployed by this President. That is what I heard from our troops when I visited there about a month ago. Extending the tours of all active-duty personnel is unacceptable, a price our families shouldn't have to pay, nor our troops. As Members of Congress, we have the responsibility to protect and provide for the best interests of all of our troops. That includes the redeployment out of Iraq and a safe return home. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and vote for these bills to support our troops. One last comment. I want to thank the Speaker of this House for having the courage to allow us to vote on these very important pieces of legislation this day. It is indeed a historic day.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today we will consider the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act. Two Federal commissions, one in 1947 and the other in 2004, recommended to the Congress that the people of Guam have not been made whole despite efforts to rehabilitate their lives and livelihoods that were destroyed during Guam's occupation by Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II. Two Federal commissions have spoken about the atrocities of war they lived through: beheadings by public executions, rapes and torture. Two Federal commissions have underscored that the patriotism of the people of Guam during their occupation was unquestionable. Two Federal commissions recommended we make additional reparations to give them justice and parity. It is past time that Congress heeds the recommendations of both Federal commissions to recognize their loyalty and patriotism. I urge my colleagues today to vote in favor of H.R. 1595, the Guam World War II Loyalty Act.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the millions of Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage. I would like to thank my good friend, Congressman Mike Honda, for leading the special orders tonight on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and providing us with this opportunity to speak to you tonight. I represent a heavily, heavily populated Asia Pacific community in southern California, I think the second most populated in the country. The first group that makes up a large proportion is Taiwanese and Chinese. The second group is Filipino. I am very proud to have represented them for so many years. But I am here tonight to pay tribute to the many of them who provide us with public service in government, science, law and business, athletics and in the arts. These communities that I represent are the cities of Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina and the San Gabriel Valley. Well over 120,000 individuals represent that district. They are Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean and of Cambodian decent. As you know, they work hard, like many immigrants that come to this country. Nearly 30 percent of the minority-owned businesses are owned by Asian Pacific Islanders and African-American women. In recent years, a number of Asian and Pacific Islander women- owned businesses has increased by 69 percent in the district. According to the Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Americans own at least two-thirds of Monterey Park's more than 5,000 businesses. I have long been a supporter of a program called PACE, Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, which was founded back in 1976 to address the employment and job training needs of Asian Pacific Islanders. Believe it or not, there are many Asian Pacific Islanders who really do need the support of the Federal Government and our various forms of government to help them succeed in our country. Today it provides workforce development, housing services, business assistance and early childhood education in Los Angeles county. I would especially like to recognize a good friend of mine, Kerry Doi, with whom I have worked for a number of years, whom I am extremely proud of. Earlier this year, his program, known as PACE, and the Association for Enterprise Opportunity Women and Company, chose 10 prominent small business owners to give $1,000 checks to. You may think that's not a lot of money, but for first-time business owners of Asian Pacific descent, it meant a lot. I am proud of the work they are doing to help all small business owners, including those of API heritage, to succeed. I have also worked closely with the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center and the Monterey Park Langley Senior Center, predominantly of Asian descent. I am proud to have these organizations in my district because they are wonderful places where individuals from this community can gather and have social time, artistic time, recreational time and share their culture with each other. At the senior center, I meet often with them. They take language courses, computer classes and different exercise courses that help them to keep busy in our community. Many of the seniors and their families and others have been touched by the immigration process recently. In fact, I would say that the second largest case load in my district happened to be individuals of API descent. They, just as much as anyone else, want to become naturalized citizens, and they are stepping up to the plate. I was happy to host a citizenship forum that we held in the City of Irwindale recently, and I would say about 200 or more families of API descent came forward to become naturalized citizens. I am proud that is happening in our community and across the country. I am here to support, again, the efforts of the API caucus, which Mike Honda leads, and to work with my colleagues there on the tri- caucus to help put forward disparities and treatment in health care issues regarding API, the Hispanic community and the African-American community. We are working together to bridge our gaps so that we can provide better services to all Americans in all residents of our country. I am happy and pleased to be able to put this forward tonight in support of the API caucus.

Ms. SOLIS

Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. Violent crimes committed against anyone because of their race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability should not be taken lightly. H.R. 1592 would make this kind of violent crime a Federal offense and authorizes Federal grants to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in prosecuting violent hate crimes. I believe that it is necessary for the Federal Government to secure the lives of all people and bring justice to individuals who have been victims of a violent hate crime. By allowing the Federal Government jurisdiction in certain, limited cases of violent hate crime, this bill provides much-needed support to local law enforcement agencies. This piece of legislation is particularly important at a time when the number of hate groups has grown over the past years. The Southern Poverty Law Center reported that the number of hate groups has seen a 40 percent increase since 2000 and attributed much of this growth to the immigration issue. Hate crimes that are motivated by bigotry and bias against minority populations affect entire families and communities. We must stand to protect our communities from hateful actions. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 1592.