February 9, 2005 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 1991 Under current law, self-employed individuals a more equal society. Less than a decade dential Spirit of Community Awards—was cre- do not share the same tax advantages for later, in 1979, Bishop Flores was consecrated ated by Prudential Financial in partnership health insurance as other wage earners who Archbishop for his Archdiocese. with the National Association of Secondary work for large companies and government Archbishop Flores has committed his life not School Principals in 1995 to impress upon all agencies. These wage earners can participate only to the service to his Church but to the youth volunteers that their contributions are in plans that allow them to pay for their health wider community. He has been a leader on critically important and highly valued, and to insurance with pre-tax dollars. This legislation countless public policy issues that improved inspire other young people to follow their ex- will provide self-employed workers the same the lives of his parishioners and created new ample. Over the past eight years, the program benefits afforded to wage earners who work opportunities for many Americans to partici- has become the Nation’s largest youth rec- for large companies, which, in turn, will help pate in the American Dream. He has long ognition effort based solely on community them purchase health insurance. The National been an advocate for public housing, for the service, with more than 170,000 youngsters Federation of Independent Business has stat- rights of immigrants, for health care for the participating since its inception. ed that allowing the self-employed to purchase poor, for economic development, for edu- Cormac should be extremely proud to have health care pre-tax dollars will help to reduce cation, and for multi-cultural understanding. been singled out from such a large group of Among his many accomplishments were the the number of uninsured Americans. dedicated volunteers. I applaud Cormac for his creation of the Mexican American Cultural There are over 16 million sole proprietor- initiative in seeking to make his community a Center, a unique program dedicated to devel- ships in the United States. Self-employed better place to live, and for the positive impact oping Catholic leadership that is responsive to workers represent 7 percent of the U.S. work- he has had on the lives of others. His actions the needs of increasing diverse society, and force. In the United States, employers play the show that young Americans can—and do— contributing to the establishment of the His- leading role in making health insurance cov- play important roles in our communities, and panic Scholarship Fund, a national program erage available to workers, retirees, and their that America’s community spirit continues to that has provided over 68,000 college scholar- families. Two-thirds of Americans get their hold tremendous promise for the future. health insurance through an employer. For ships to economically disadvantaged His- panics. At the heart of both these programs is sole proprietors and other Americans, health f care coverage poses a significant challenge. the heart of the Archbishop’s social vision of Americans have always admired those who giving hope to the disadvantaged and con- THE ERRONEOUS TAX REFUND strike out on their own. They are the structing a society that respects diversity and FAIRNESS ACT innovators and the entrepreneurs. We should truly values equality. encourage this activity by providing self-em- Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the House to HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ pass this resolution in the coming weeks. ployed workers the opportunity to purchase OF CALIFORNIA health care as affordably as those who work Archbishop Patrick Flores has been a national for others. leader not only for the cause of Hispanic rights IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES but for the rights of all Americans. f Wednesday, February 9, 2005 f A BILL TO RECOGNIZE THE PUB- Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. LIC SERVICE OF ARCHBISHOP COMMENDATION OF CORMAC O’CONNOR Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Erro- PATRICK FLORES neous Tax Refund Fairness Act, a bill to en- sure the fair treatment of tax payers who re- HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ HON. DENNIS MOORE turn overpaid tax refunds and are penalized OF KANSAS OF TEXAS for it. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The deadline for filing tax returns will be Wednesday, February 9, 2005 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 here before you know it. Most Americans re- Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise ceive a refund, and our constituents enjoy get- Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I intro- today to congratulate a young student from ting back the money they earned from the duced a House resolution recognizing the long the Third District of Kansas who has achieved IRS. However, even the IRS can make mis- career of public service of Archbishop Patrick national recognition for exemplary volunteer takes and occasionally people receive more Flores of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. service in his community. Cormac O’Connor of money than they should. Those who have filed Archbishop Flores, the first Mexican American Prairie Village has just been named one of the misleading information on their tax returns Bishop in the United States, will be retiring on top honorees in the state of Kansas by the should be punished for their actions. But did Tuesday, February 15, 2005, after 34 years of 2005 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards you know that if a person is mistakenly over- service as a bishop. program, an annual honor conferred on the paid and attempts to return the excess pay- Patrick Fernandez Flores, was born on July most impressive student volunteers in each ment to the IRS, they must pay accrued inter- 26, 1929 to Patricio Flores and Trinidad state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto est on the amount of the erroneous refund? Fernandez de Flores in Ganado, Texas. He Rico. This is truly an extraordinary honor, as The legislation I am introducing today would was the seventh of nine children. After grad- more than 20,000 young people across the abate the interest on erroneous tax refunds if uating from Kirwin High School in Galveston, country were considered for recognition this the person receiving the refund made a good- Texas, Patrick Flores entered the St. Mary’s year. Seminary in La Porte, Texas. On May 26, Cormac is being recognized for imple- faith effort in a timely manner to return the 1956 he was ordained to the Catholic Priest- menting an intergenerational arts program that money to the IRS. The bill also includes lan- hood and served the Diocese of Galveston- brought senior citizens and at-risk children to- guage that gives the Secretary of the Treasury Houston for the next 14 years. gether for classes in visual arts, movement, discretion over whether or not to abate the in- On Cinco de Mayo—May 5, 1970 in San theater, and jazz. terest. If the Secretary establishes that the Antonio, Texas, Patrick Fernandez Flores was In light of statistics that indicate Americans taxpayer received notice of the erroneous no- consecrated a bishop in the Archdiocese of today are less involved in their communities tice before the date of demand and did not at- San Antonio. His appointment was an event of than they once were, it’s vital that we encour- tempt to resolve the issue with the Internal great significance in the history of South age and support the kind of selfless contribu- Revenue Service within 30 days, the Sec- Texas and the United States. While the Mexi- tion this young citizen has made. People of all retary can determine what amount of the inter- can-American community was one of the larg- ages need to think more about how we can est, if any, will be abated. est Catholic communities in the United States, work together at the local level to ensure the This bill language was included in H.R. until that day in 1970 there had never been a health and vitality of our towns and neighbor- 1528 last year, which passed both the House Mexican-American bishop. In that regard, like hoods. Young volunteers like Cormac are in- and Senate, but was not signed into law. I other civil rights leaders of the time, Arch- spiring examples to all of us, and are among hope that Congress will remedy the situation bishop Flores broke a barrier in a major na- our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. this year. We should punish those who cheat tional institution—the Catholic Church, and in Mr. Speaker, the program that brought this on their taxes, not those who make an effort doing so, he helped to lay the groundwork for young role model to our attention—The Pru- to return money they mistakenly received.

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