The Serrano Report   |   July 23, 2004

Serrano launches newly redesigned website

This week, Congressman Serrano launched a newly redesigned official website. The improved organization of the site provides constituents of the 16th Congressional District with easier access to resources from the federal government, up-to-date information on Serrano's activities in Congress and services. Visit the new site at http://www.house.gov/serrano.

On Capitol Hill This Week

	House Floor Synopsis
	This week the House considered The Stock Option Accounting Reform Act, which would require corporations to expense stock options offered as compensation to their executives FY 2005 District of Columbia Appropriations FY 2005 Military Construction Appropriations The Marriage Protection Act of 2003, which would strip the jurisdiction of federal courts, including the Supreme Court, of any cases involving the Defense of Marriage Act Legislation to implement the U.S. - Morocco Free Trade Agreement The Final Conference Report on FY 2005 Defense Appropriations Next week the House is not in session.

Pastor amendment on matricula consular fails by narrow margin in Committee

During the full House Appropriations Committee's consideration of the Transportation and Treasury Appropriations bill on Thursday, Congressman Serrano spoke out in favor of an amendment offered by Congressman Ed Pastor of Arizona regarding the use of the matricula consular. The matricula is a form of identification issued by the Mexican government to track and identify Mexicans in the United States. Unfortunately, the version of the bill reported from the Subcommittee included language that would prohibit the Treasury Department from implementing regulations that permit financial institutions to accept the matricula consular as a valid form of identification. Treasury Secretary John W. Snow opposed the language.

The Pastor amendment would have stricken this provision from the bill, but was defeated by one vote in the Committee. Pastor, Serrano and other supporters of the amendment have committed to ensuring that the provision does not survive the amendment process on the House floor.

Serrano secures funding for Serrano Scholars program in final Defense Appropriations conference report

On Thursday, both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the conference report on the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005. The final version of the bill, which awaits the President's signature, includes $1 million secured by Congressman Serrano for the continuation of the Serrano Scholars program at Hostos Community College in the Bronx and Columbia University.

This unique partnership, between these institutions of higher education and the Departments of Defense and State, has encouraged non-traditional and minority students to pursue careers in foreign affairs and national security since 2001. The program provides tuition and resources for exceptional Hostos students to attain bachelors and masters degrees at the Columbia's School of General Studies and School of International and Public Affairs. Serrano Scholars also receive a variety of guidance, mentoring and internship opportunities.

Serrano strongly opposes radical conservative attempts to strip powers of judicial review

On Thursday, the House passed a bill to violate fundamental principles of equal protection and separation of powers, as well as America's system of checks and balances, by undermining the ability of the Judiciary to protect constitutional rights. H.R. 3313, the so-called "Marriage Protection Act" would strip the Federal courts, including the Supreme Court, of jurisdiction to review constitutional challenges to the 1996 "Defense of Marriage Act", which permits states to refuse to recognize single-sex marriages performed in other states. Whatever one may think of same-sex marriage, this is a dangerous bill, because if it became law, it would set a precedent for protecting other controversial, even unconstitutional, legislation from judicial review. Congressman Serrano voted against H.R. 3313, but it passed the House 233-194. He is committed to working to see that it goes no further.

In the Bronx This Week

Bronx Profile: Casita Maria

Founded in 1934, Casita Maria is a charitable organization dedicated to serving the predominantly Latino communities of the South Bronx and East Harlem. Through various development programs, Casita Maria aims to provide individuals of all ages with skills and resources necessary to succeed. Among the programs are after-school and summer programs for children, counseling and career information for teens, bilingual information and counseling for adults, and social services for seniors.

Congressman Serrano has been proud to support Casita Maria with federal funding he has secured through annual Congressional appropriations. This year, Serrano secured $250,000 for an after-school program that will provide 150 participants with educational and literacy skills development, career preparation, computer training, community service opportunities, and cultural and arts activities.

More information on Casita Maria is available on the organization's website.