The Serrano Report

On Capitol Hill This Week

	House Floor Synopsis
	This week the House considered The FY 2005 Defense Appropriations bill The FY 2005 Intelligence Authorization Act A Republican budget enforcement bill The FY 2005 Energy and Water Appropriations bill Next week the House is not in session.

Serrano offers amendment to restore loan program for small businesses

On Wednesday of this week, the full House Appropriations Committee amended and passed the Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005. Congressman Serrano, who is Ranking Minority Member on the subcommittee charged with crafting the bill, offered an amendment that would have restored $79 million in subsidies for the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan program.

The President's budget request completely cut subsidy funding for the program in fiscal year 2005, proposing instead to fund the program exclusively through fees paid by lenders and small businesses. Serrano and other Democrats are concerned that such a funding scheme would impose a prohibitively large burden on small business owners that have limited access to other sources of capital. Although the amendment was defeated in Committee along a largely party-line vote, House Democrats will likely offer a similar amendment on the House floor to ensure the continuation of this important program for job creation and economic development.

Serrano Cosponsors Amendment to Urge Justice Department to Resolve "Gold Train" Controversy

During the House Appropriation Committee's consideration of the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriations bill, Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf and Congressman Serrano offered a bipartisan amendment to address the issue of the Nazi "Gold Train."

In 1944, the Nazis confiscated the personal property and valuables, including gold, jewelry, art and religious objects, from Jewish detainees in Hungary, and loaded the items onto a train. The U.S. Army accepted possession of this train for safekeeping in May 1945. Instead of returning the stolen property to its owners, however, the U.S. government allowed the train to be looted and ultimately sold what remained at auction. For over fifty years, the federal government lied to the survivors about the fate of their property.

The Wolf-Serrano Amendment, adopted by voice vote, directs the Department of Justice to proceed "with mediation in a compassionate and expeditious manner in order to reach a fair resolution" of the issue. The amendment passed by voice vote.

House Appropriations Committee calls for NOAA involvement in Vieques cleanup

In the Committee report on the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary bill, approved by the House Committee on Appropriations this week, Congressman Serrano was able to include a provision that directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) "to consult with and provide assistance to the Departments of Defense and the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency in carrying out responsibilities to clean up Vieques Island, Puerto Rico." Serrano believes that NOAA's extensive expertise on environmental issues would greatly benefit the cleanup and remediation of the former Navy bombing range.

Although the bill is not yet final, Serrano will work to ensure that the provision is retained in the final version passed by both chambers of Congress.

House approves funding for Serrano Scholars program

The House of Representatives passed the Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2005 this past Tuesday. Included in the bill was funding for the continuation of the Serrano Scholars program, an educational partnership among Hostos Community College in the Bronx, Columbia University and the Department of Defense. In an effort to encourage non-traditional and minority students to pursue careers in foreign affairs and national security, the program provides tuition and resources for exceptional students of Hostos Community College to attain bachelors and masters degrees at the Columbia's School of General Studies and School of International and Public Affairs. The program also provides a variety of guidance, mentoring and internship opportunities for its participants.

House Appropriations Committee funds Bronx projects in Agriculture bill

In Wednesday's meeting, the House Appropriations Committee passed the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2005. As a member of the full Committee, Serrano was able to include funding for two important projects in the Bronx, conducted by the Cornell University Cooperative Extension:

• The Urban Silviculture research project studies methods for using vegetation to reduce concentrations of particulate pollutants in the air. High concentrations of these pollutants have been associated with a high incidence of respiratory ailments in low-income Bronx neighborhoods such as Hunts Point and Mott Haven. The project continues to make solid contributions to a research base on air quality and respiratory health.

• An Urban Market Development program provides informal and experiential science education in the context of urban community gardens. Through these programs, youth, educators and adult gardeners conduct investigations of food-growing practices of different cultures, and study their underlying scientific principles.

In the Bronx This Week

Congressman Serrano Honored by Casita Maria for Service to the Bronx

At its "Community Day" breakfast on Monday, Casita Maria honored Congressman Serrano along with three other distinguished community leaders who have, according to a statement by the group, "devoted their careers for the betterment of the Bronx." Casita Maria, which is the oldest charitable institution established to serve Hispanics in New York City, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.

"For seven decades, Casita Marita has played a tremendous role in helping our Bronx Latino community, and I am so humbled and grateful to be honored by the Casita on this special day," said Congressman Serrano in a statement.

Serrano receives Distinguished Service Award from Neighborhood SHOPP

This week, Congressman Serrano received the Distinguished Service Award from Neighborhood Self-Help By Older Persons Project, Inc. (SHOPP). The award recognized Serrano's service to the needs of older persons in the Bronx. Over 300 seniors attended the event.