[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4929]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CONFERENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the first 
anniversary of the Congressional Hispanic Conference. Formed just 1 
year ago, the Conference promotes the interest of over 40 million 
Americans of Hispanic and Portuguese descent. As an associate member of 
this Conference, along with our founding members, we have provided a 
needed voice in Congress and in issues important to the Hispanic and 
Latino community.
  Hispanics, by principle, value moderate and conservative beliefs, and 
the Congressional Hispanic Conference's policy objectives mirror those 
beliefs.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe ``Los valores le los Hispanos son los 
valores de los Republicanos,'' meaning ``Hispanic values are Republican 
values.''
  When you address the issues, it is clear that the values of the 
Republican Party are the values of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
  In the 108th Congress, the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation 
Act of 2003, known by most as the ``Bush tax cut,'' was passed and 
signed by George W. Bush. This legislation lowered taxes for every 
American taxpayer, and now several million working Americans of low 
income benefit from a new lower tax bracket of 10 percent, allowing 
them to keep more of what they earned. But also note, these hard-
working Americans in the lowest tax bracket receive the largest 
percentage reduction in their tax burden. In fact, 3 million low-income 
families no longer have to pay Federal income taxes.
  Another benefit of the Bush tax cut to strengthen families is that we 
increased the child tax credit from $600 to $1,000 per child this year. 
An estimated 34 million families benefit from this provision to help 
them. And I would note that we also strengthen families and, 
particularly, the institution of marriage by eliminating the marriage 
tax penalty.
  The Congressional Hispanic Conference is committed to passing 
legislation which provides common-sense lower taxes for all Americans.
  With the No Child Left Behind Act designed to help our schools passed 
by this Congress, signed into law by President Bush, minority parents 
are empowered with the freedom to remove their children from unsafe and 
failing schools and enroll them into a more successful institution. 
Ensuring that Hispanics receive a quality education will assist 
bridging the wage and unemployment gap that exists here in America.

                              {time}  1945

  We have all learned that with higher education workers can earn more 
income with their jobs; and I would also note, with our commitment to 
education in the Republican Congress, when we worked with the President 
over the last 3\1/2\ years, we have increased Federal funding for 
education by 45 percent over just 3 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just two examples of numerous legislative 
accomplishments of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, along with 
the Republican majority. The list continues, whether the issue is the 
Republican effort to increase the number of community health centers 
and access to health care, to lower taxes to strengthen and make our 
schools better, to support faith-based community organizations, or 
promote homeownership and develop a common market for all of the 
Americas.
  Republicans, under the leadership of the gentleman from Illinois 
(Speaker Hastert) and President Bush have worked hard to make our 
messages of support clear to our Latino and Hispanic communities and 
neighbors.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to serve as an associate member of the 
Congressional Hispanic Conference and commend the conference for a 
successful year in just 1 year. My colleagues and I will continue to 
promote the goals and aspirations of the Latino community and the 
opportunities for all Americans.
  Los valores de los Hispanos son los valores de los Republicanos. 
Compartimos los mismos valores. Somos todos Americanos.
  (English translation of the above statement is as follows:)
  Hispanic values are Republican values. We share common values. We are 
all Americans.

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