JOE BACA

The Republicans would like to take us back to a darker time, when corporations ruled and the underserved had no rights.

Native Americans are the original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the United States. They have helped develop the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of powers that form the foundation of the United States Government.

Our immigration system is a broken system that needs to be fixed. We need reform that provides hardworking people of good character with a real path towards citizenship.

The Republican majority will stop at nothing to prevent access to the legal system for those who are hurt.

The goal of the Head Start program is to give at-risk children all across our Nation a fair chance at succeeding in the educational system.

Head Start's ability to improve the educational skills and opportunities of Latino children will be an important component of America's future success.

To help U.S. workers, farmers and businesses, and America's long-term economic security, Congress should take decisive action to bring about fair trade with China, instead of squandering this opportunity on a weak Republican bill.

I consider it top priority to improve water quality and increase water quantity in my community.

Products made in China are cheap through the exploitation of the workforce. Every time we shop, we are driving the nail further into the coffin of American manufacturing jobs.

We cannot neglect the unemployed, underemployed and dislocated workers of America who need ample and widespread funding for federal job training services.

Every year thousands of Americans mistakenly refer to Cinco de Mayo as Mexico's Independence Day.

With a growing population, there is a growing need for more water delivery and storage.

American families be warned, if the White House doesn't send your jobs overseas, they'll send your kids.

The Postal Service delivers mail six days a week to nearly 140 million addresses. Every year this number increases by 2 million.

The School Energy Crisis Relief Act authorizes the Secretary of Energy to issue energy assistance grants to help the poorest school districts across the Nation offset these unexpected and challenging costs.

Many of us are alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of medical care, including patients, who are the consumers. However, medical malpractice is not the reason for these increasing costs.

Caring for our children and making sure they do not get addicted to drugs is all of our responsibility.

Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America.

Latinos have fought in all of America's wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War. Many Latinos are fighting and dying for our country today in Iraq, just as several of their ancestors fought for freedom in Mexico over a century ago.

In fact, allowing immigrants to have licenses actually improves homeland security by allowing our government to track who is in our borders.

It is an honor to be awarded with such a high rating from an organization as well respected as the NAACP. I am pleased that the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the nation, has recognized my voting record.

Head Start is especially important to Latino children. Latino children make up more than one-third, 34 percent, of all those eligible for the program.

Head Start graduates are more likely to graduate from high school and less likely to need special education, repeat a grade, or commit crimes in adolescence.

As a proud Catholic, I know the impact that faith-based education can have in our society and have witnessed it first hand in my district.

All of our children have so much potential. All of our children deserve a chance at life.