April 21, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E719 assured that their financial reporting will be of leagues to join me in keeping her family—and EQUAL PAY DAY the caliber they are entitled to. her many fans—in our thoughts and prayers at With the continued help of their Chief Exec- this difficult time. HON. BETTY McCOLLUM utive Officer Buddy Turman, I am confident OF MINNESOTA that the FICP A will continue to build upon its f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES legacy from the last 100 years and allow the profession of accounting to maintain its promi- IN HONOR OF THE CITY OF Wednesday, April 20, 2005 nent role in our society. Mr. Speaker, on be- HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speak- half of the United States Congress, I am proud er, I rise today in recognition of working to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Flor- HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ women across America and in support of the ida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. OF NEW JERSEY Paycheck Fairness Act. Every April, supporters of equal pay mark f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES our progress on this issue by noting the time REGARDING: TEJANO SINGER Wednesday, April 20, 2005 of year in which women’s wages ‘‘catch up’’ to LAURA CANALES Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today the wages paid to men from the previous year. to honor the city of Hoboken, New Jersey, on Although we have made great strides in wom- HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ its sesquicentennial celebration. The people of en’s equality, women still earn $.76 for each OF TEXAS Hoboken will be commemorating this event dollar that men earn. In my home state of Min- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with a series of activities throughout the spring nesota, that number is $.72. In real terms, this Wednesday, April 20, 2005 and summer. Last weekend, the community means that women and their families are held its 150th Anniversary Parade on April 16, being shortchanged thousands of dollars a Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my fellow year. Texans—and many around the Southwest and 2005. Located on the shore of the Hudson River, Minnesota women have the highest labor the nation in paying special tribute to Laura force participation in the nation and edu- Canales, a very special artistic pioneer, and a Hoboken is known for its lively atmosphere and rich history. The area was developed al- cational attainment continues to grow. With talented South Texan, who accomplished this remarkable increase in women’s participa- great things throughout her lifetime of per- most single-handedly by Colonel John Ste- vens, who bought the land for $90,000 in tion in the economy, more and more families forming. are reliant on women’s paychecks to make Before there was the phenomenon of 1784. On March 28, 1855, it was incorporated as a city. The late nineteenth century brought ends meet. If we are serious about ensuring Tejano giant Selena, there was Laura fairness for all, about leaving no child behind, Canales, who paved the way for a number of a sharp increase in immigration due to Hobo- ken’s proximity to Ellis Island and, by 1890, and about helping families achieve financial Tejano artists in the late 20th Century. She stability now and in the future, then Congress contributed much to our culture and to the over 40 percent of the population was foreign- born. Hoboken developed and grew as a man- must act to address this significant wage gap. music industry, and became known as the For this reason, I am proud to be a cospon- ufacturing hub with shipbuilding as the primary ‘‘Barbara Streisand of Tejano music’’ and as sor of the Paycheck Fairness Act. This bill will industry. The 20th century also brought the ‘‘Reina de la Onda Tejana,’’ (queen of the take concrete steps to eliminate gender-based development of public transportation and the Tejano wave). wage discrimination. It will provide for en- railroads, ferries, and Port Authority Trans- Tejano is a popular type of music in Texas hanced outreach and training programs for Hudson, PATH, Tube that transformed Hobo- and the Southwest that has become a huge employers, allow employees to share salary ken into a bustling transportation center. The industry with its own category in the Grammy information, and give women the opportunity city piers soon became a focal point for trans- Awards. Tejano is a combination of rock-n-roll to sue for punitive damages under the Equal Atlantic commerce. More than three million and German Conjunto music. Some of the cul- Pay Act. It is my hope that the Administration Americans passed through Hoboken on their tural influences on Tejano music include: and the Republican leadership will make a se- way to or from World War I. In the past few Anglo, African, German, and Italian. rious effort to address this discrimination this decades the shipyards have closed as Hobo- Tejano was originally dominated by male Congress. ken has transformed from an industrial area performers and it was nearly impossible for Along with wage disparity, we must continue into an affluent neighborhood full of young women to break through in this genre. Laura to focus on issues of work place safety, equal professionals and known for its variety of res- Canales, with her unique voice and love of treatment, and career advancement. As a taurants and vibrant nightlife. performing, became the first woman to enjoy woman, a mother, and a Member of Con- The birthplace of Frank Sinatra, Hoboken real success in the world of Tejano, and was gress, I will continue to fight for equal pay, also claims such famous citizens as photog- honored as the first woman to be inducted into quality health care, safe work environments, rapher Dorothea Lange and painter Willem de the Tejano ROOTS Hall of Fame in Alice, and education opportunities for girls and Kooning. Additionally, it boasts many notable Texas. This museum is the only one that is women to ensure that they can pursue the firsts, including the first ice cream cone, the entirely dedicated in honoring great Tejano American dream. first steamboat, the first locomotive, and the music figures. f Laura’s influence on Tejano music became first brewery. Many also believe that the first readily apparent during the 1970’s and 1980’s. organized baseball game was played on Ho- RECOGNIZING EDWARD A. With her distinctive voice and popularity, she boken’s Elysian Fields in 1846. MITCHELL released various albums that became hits, in- In order to commemorate its momentous cluding her debut album, Si Vivi Contigo. Her sesquicentennial birthday, Hoboken has HON. DALE E. KILDEE numerous accomplishments include a dozen planned a wide variety of celebrations that will OF MICHIGAN serve to honor the progress and development Tejano music awards, including Female Vocal- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and of the past 150 years. Some of these activities Female Entertainer of the Year. This include the creation of a time capsule, the Wednesday, April 20, 2005 Kingsville, Texas, native also understood the painting of a historical mural, an anniversary Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to value of education, earning a bachelor’s de- gala and fundraiser, an evening concert se- rise before you today to honor Edward A. gree in clinical psychology from Texas A&M ries, and a spaghetti dinner block party. Hobo- Mitchell, of Flint, Michigan, my hometown. On University and pursuing a master’s degree. ken will also host a vintage baseball festival Wednesday, April 20, the Food Bank of East- Laura Canales proved that a woman could and an arts and music festival. ern Michigan will honor Mr. Mitchell’s selfless be successful in the Tejano music industry Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in contributions and dedication to improving the . . . she broke the gender barriers that ex- honoring the city of Hoboken on its 150th an- quality of life for thousands of residents of isted at the dawn of the emergence of popular niversary. This momentous occasion allows us Genesee County. Tejano . . . and she and paved the way for to reflect on the city’s colorful past and look A native of Flint, Edward Mitchell graduated future, female Tejano performers. towards its promising future with hope and en- from Central High School in 1947, and later This Tejano legend and daughter of South thusiasm. I am proud to be a resident of this studied at Flint Junior College. At the age of Texas will truly be missed, although she will community, and I congratulate the people of 18, Ed began what became a 50-year career live on in her music, to be enjoyed by many Hoboken on making this city a wonderful place with the Flint Journal, starting out as an Ad future connoisseurs of Tejano. I ask my col- to call home. Services employee. A year later, he became

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