Silvestre Reyes Blog

Third Annual Veterans Business Conference in El Paso

2008-04-16T19:12:12+00:00

On behalf of the El Paso Small Business Consortium and my office, I would like to invite you to the upcoming Third Annual Veterans Business Conference. The conference will be held on May 16, 2008 at the El Paso Community College Administrative Services Center at 9050 Viscount in El Paso, Texas.

The conference will focus on providing veteran business owners and prospective veteran business owners, workshops on topics such as business startup, financing, marketing, bonding, business development, federal certification programs, and federal contracting. In addition to the workshops, there will be a great opportunity for you to network with other businesses owners and entrepreneurs.

The El Paso Small Business Consortium, which includes representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Contract Opportunity Center of the El Paso Community College, Small Business Development Center, Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The El Paso Black Chamber of Commerce, Service Corps of Retired Executives, Accion Texas, the City of El Paso, El Paso 8a and Minority Sub-Contractors Association, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Upper Rio Grande Work Force Development Board are partners in this initiative and will be featured as well.

I hope that you will be able to join us for the conference. To register for the conference or learn more about the conference and the exhibiting process, please feel free to contact Gracie Diaz at (915) 831-7745 or Pablo Armendariz at (915) 831-7747 at the Contract Opportunities Center. You may also visit my website for more information at www.house.gov/reyes.

May 16, 2008
7:30 a.m. � 4:00 p.m.
9050 Viscount
El Paso Community College
Administrative Services Center Auditorium
El Paso, TX 79998

Blood Drive: Donate blood for the Troops

Information will be provided for:
� Veteran Start up Businesses
� Veterans Seeking Employment Opportunities
� Federal Certification Programs
� Business Development, Financing, Bonding
� Federal Contracting
� Essentials for Business Start up
� Matchmaking Opportunities for Business owners

All business owners and entrepreneurs are welcome to attend.

Raising awareness of Earned Income Tax Credit in El Paso

2008-01-31T23:28:19+00:00

In an effort to ensure El Pasoans are aware of the Earned Income Tax Credit as tax season gets underway, please note this press release Congressman Reyes sent out today. There is also a link below to a brochure by the El Paso Coalition for Family Economic Progress that lists free tax preparation assistance sites in El Paso. These services are available across El Paso in both English and Spanish.

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Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, is proud to join with the El Paso Internal Revenue Service office and the El Paso Coalition for Family Economic Progress on "Earned Income Tax Awareness Day" to help increase awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) among potentially eligible El Paso taxpayers.

"The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the largest tax credit programs available for working families," said Congressman Reyes. "There are estimates that many more taxpayers nationwide may be eligible, but aren�t aware of it and therefore don�t receive the credit they deserve. For eligible filers, this credit will help stretch their income and reduce their taxes.

"I applaud the work of the El Paso IRS and our community partners in helping get the word out about this federal tax credit and providing free tax preparation services for El Paso families," said Congressman Reyes.

According to the IRS, over 103,000 residents of El Paso County claimed $250 million in EITC funds in tax year 2006. The EITC is worth up to $4,716 per qualifying individual or family.

Created by Congress in 1975, the EITC is a refundable credit for working low-income families. The program helps offset Social Security taxes and provides an incentive for work. It is the federal government�s largest benefits program for working families. In the 1990s, Congress transformed the program into a major component of federal efforts to reduce poverty, and it is now the largest anti-poverty entitlement program.

EITC Eligibility
To qualify during the 2007 tax year, taxpayers must have had investment income of $2,900 or less and earned income and adjusted gross incomes (AGI) under:

$37,783 ($39,783 married filing jointly) with two or more qualifying children;
$33,241 ($35,241 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child; and
$12,590 ($14,590 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children.

Click here for the EITC page on IRS website.

Para informaci�n en espa�ol a cerca del Cr�dito por Ingreso del Trabajo, siga esta p�gina de Internet.

Texas Monthly Talks

2007-12-18T23:40:09+00:00

Last month, Congressman Reyes sat down with Evan Smith, the editor of Texas Monthly magazine to tape an episode of Texas Monthly Talks, the magazine�s weekly television show that airs on PBS across the state. As you can see from Smith�s introduction of their show, which was posted on their website, their conversation ranged from immigration to the issues Congressman Reyes deals with as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Excerpts from Smith's introduction:

By some estimates, as many as twelve million people are in this country illegally, living and working and raising their families among us, so much a part of our communities that we�ve come to take it, and them, for granted. We know, because the doomsayers and demagogues tell us, that our borders are too porous, that our homeland isn�t as secure as it should be, that our American way of life is under assault. And yet there�s another side to the story, one focused on the long tradition of immigrants of all kinds coming to America in search of opportunity and contributing in so many ways to this great melting pot of ours, and on the economic development made possible by an unfettered flow of people and commerce, and this week�s guest is only too happy to tell that story. For more than twenty-six years, Silvestre Reyes worked for the U.S. Border Patrol...

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Following the 2006 elections, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi named Congressman Reyes the chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence. The 63-year-old finds himself at the epicenter of power and policy-making in Washington at a time when experts on the thorny immigration issue are more in need than ever, and loudmouths who know nothing, of which there are many, need real schooling; in him, fortunately, we have someone who is more than capable of providing it.

The show aired on Sunday, December 8 on KCOS in El Paso. If you missed it, you can watch it online on the KLRU website: http://www.klru.org/texasmonthlytalks/archives/reyes/intro.asp

Math and science - America falling behind

2007-12-11T20:22:22+00:00

Recently, an article published in the Washington Post revealed that American teenagers are "trailing" others their age in the areas of science and math. Results from the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) revealed that 15-year-olds in the U.S. placed 16th out of 30 industrialized nations in their science scores; American students placed even farther behind other nations in math, at 23rd.

The Post article, entitled "U.S. Teens Trail Peers Around World on Math-Science Test," highlights the implications of our neglected educational system on the future of American teenagers:

"How are our children going to be able to compete with the children of the world? The answer is not well," said former Colorado governor Roy Romer, chairman of Strong American Schools, a nonpartisan group seeking to make education prominent in the 2008 presidential election.

Recognizing the importance of American competitiveness in an interconnected, globalized world, Congressman Reyes has taken steps to address U.S. educational concerns in science and math. Earlier this year, he created the House Diversity and Innovation Caucus, which focuses on promoting policy to address the under-representation of Hispanics, African Americans and women within the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. In addition, Reyes has sponsored related bills, including the STEM Promotion Act of 2007 and H.R. 1928, to require a report by the National Academy of Sciences on the under-representation of minority groups in STEM, among other legislation. Expanding the STEM pipeline, particularly by encouraging the involvement of women and minorities in STEM fields, is important because it will allow Americans to remain an innovative and competitive force, safeguarding the future prosperity and security of our nation.

Democrats fighting for your pocketbooks

2007-12-11T22:25:41+00:00

Economic performance statistics for the month of December 2007 show that over the course of the Bush Administration, the median household income has decreased by 0.3% while the poverty level has increased by 1.0%. Furthermore, only 6 million jobs were created throughout Bush�s presidency, compared to 22.7 million new jobs under the Clinton Administration.

The statistics, provided by the Democratic members of the Joint Economic Committee, paint a disappointing picture of Republican fiscal governance. Over 18 years, the past three Republican Presidents created $4.14 trillion in deficits, which starkly contrasts to the $67.7 billion surplus accumulated under the Clinton Administration.

Under President Bush, home foreclosures have skyrocketed, and the price of health insurance, gas, and college are rapidly increasing. These costs strain today�s hard-working families in El Paso and across America, and pass the buck to future generations.

Democrats have taken a stand against fiscally irresponsible policies and demanded accountability. Democrats have restored responsible pay-as-you-go budget rules to reign in the uncontrolled spending that occurred under Republicans.

Throughout the 110^th Congress, an emphasis has been placed on passing legislation that creates jobs, reduces college costs, and increases competitiveness. Though we currently face numerous economic challenges, rest assured Congressman Reyes and his Democratic colleagues are working to create a more economically secure, prosperous America.

DREAM Act fails in Senate

2007-10-25T19:55:28+00:00

Yesterday, the DREAM Act failed to reach the 60 votes necessary for consideration in the U.S. Senate. This was a disappointment, and was encouraged by the White House, which issued a Statement of Administration Policy yesterday against the legislation. The DREAM Act would grant undocumented immigrant youth who were brought to this country as children, and therefore did not have a say in the matter, to go to college or enter the military.

The Washington Post editorial "Dreams Crushed" today points out an important fact regarding the position of the White House:

In its policy statement yesterday, the administration asserted that it was "sympathetic" to the plight of these young people but insisted that the measure "falls short" because it would create "a special path to citizenship that is unavailable to other prospective immigrants -- including young people whose parents respected the nation's immigration laws." Of course, the administration-backed comprehensive immigration reform measure, which failed earlier this year, also provided for special, expedited treatment of young people in this category. The administration had no problem with the provision then, and its complaints now seem as cowardly as they are unpersuasive.

The Administration also begins and concludes their statement by stating our country needs comprehensive reform. I could not agree more. Comprehensive immigration reform, with increased border security, earned legalization for those who qualify, and a guest worker program with tough employer sanctions, is what this nation so desperately needs right now. However, absent comprehensive reform, providing students who have worked hard in school and are qualified to receive conditional legal status with the opportunity go to college or enter the military and therefore help contribute to our nation, would be a good step forward. In many cases, these kids have known no home other than the United States and could help move our economy forward and assist our military, which as we all know is overstretched and in need of new quality individuals.

�Goodbye, GWOT�

2007-10-05T19:57:01+00:00

We�ve got to applaud Washington Post columnists for their continuing coverage of the (now-defunct (at last)) "Global War on Terror" or GWOT phrase. From today�s In the Loop column, entitled "Goodbye, GWOT":

Seems the incoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Adm. Michael Mullen, has banned the use of the phrase "Global War on Terror" (GWOT) and has prohibited using it "in any future correspondence," according to a Sept. 27 e-mail from a Mullen aide.

Hmmm . . . Mullen probably doesn't remember that this issue came up two years ago because so many people then thought the term was inaccurate. It was catchy, though, one administration official said at the time.

It�s about time, since the bill introduced by Congressman Reyes and Congressman Vic Snyder nixing the "Global War on Terror" medal and creating separate medals for those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan became law in May 2004 � yes, that�s over three years ago.

Opposed to the Administration�s efforts to try to connect the War in Iraq to the War in Afghanistan and al Qaeda, Congressman Reyes introduced this bill with Congressman Snyder in the 108^th Congress. Read about it in a June 2004 Reliable Source column entitled �This time, it�s the President who surrenders� (attached) that ran in the June 3, 2004 edition of the Washington Post.

50 years ago: Sputnik

2007-10-03T15:00:25+00:00

Fifty years ago this week, the Soviet launch of Sputnik galvanized a new era of American investment in science. Today, that investment has resulted in a half-century of unprecedented prosperity and security for this country.

But new findings indicate we're falling behind the rest of the world in our ability to innovate and compete. We need a new investment in science -- and a new "Sputnik moment" to get us there.

Check out this interesting Washington Post article on the original launch, "below the fold."

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act

2007-10-03T17:07:03+00:00

The ticket to success in America is a good education. But skyrocketing costs are keeping far too many students from pursuing a college degree. That�s why Democrats passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which the President just signed into law. It's the largest increase in federal student aid in over 50 years.

Take a look at this funny video (a spoof on those eHarmony ads) to find out more about the law and how you can take advantage of it.

WaPo: The President Asserted Progress on Security and Political Issues. Recent Reports Weren't Often So Upbeat.

2007-09-14T22:28:02+00:00

The President's speech from last night raised a lot of questions. Read below for an interesting analysis from the Washington Post:

In his speech last night, President Bush made a case for progress in Iraq by citing facts and statistics that at times contradicted recent government reports or his own words.

Click below for more.