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The Serrano Report | Sept. 17, 2004
Congressman Serrano pushes for community involvement in sludge processing plant permit renewal processOn Monday, September 13th, Congressman Serrano sponsored a meeting in his Bronx office to discuss the New York Organic Fertilizer Company's (NYOFCO) Title V permit renewal application for its sewage processing plant on Oakpoint Avenue in Hunts Point. Representatives from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) met with Serrano to discuss local residents' concerns about poor air quality resulting from NYOFCO's sewage processing activities. During this meeting Serrano made clear that the federal and state governments had not taken adequate measures to address air quality issues in the Bronx and that the city of New York was not carefully monitoring odors and emissions from the plant. Asthma rates in the South Bronx are among the highest in the nation, a grim fact that Serrano attributes in part to emissions from operations such as sludge pelletization. Serrano also formally requested that the state DEC hold a public hearing on NYOFCO's application in the impacted area so that community would have an opportunity to voice its concerns directly. Constituents and local organizations can submit their comments on NYOFCO and request that DEC convene this public hearing by writing to the following DEC Contact Person. Elizabeth A ClarkeAll comments should be received by October 1st. Residents who experience specific odor problems from NYOFCO are urged to continue reporting them to both the city DEP and the state DEC so that all incidents can be officially documented. Residents can dial 311 at any time to contact DEP, and Congressman Serrano will continue to monitor DEC's proceedings to ensure that the community receives adequate protection from air quality hazards as NYOFCO's renewal application moves forward.
EEOC votes on National Contact Center proposalToday, September 17, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to approve funding for a pilot of its controversial proposal for a National Contact Center, which would provide basic information on EEOC to the public and act as an intermediary between callers and EEOC employees. The call center will be operated by a private contractor and tested over two years. Congressman Serrano, who is the Ranking Minority Member on the Appropriations subcommittee that allocates funding to EEOC, expressed concern that a privately-operated call center separate from EEOC may fail to improve customer service, while sapping EEOC's already scarce funding. Serrano has been committed to protecting the jobs of all EEOC employees and ensuring that this pilot project, and the other proposed reforms, do not cause EEOC's services to suffer. Earlier this year, during the drafting of the FY 2005 Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriations bill, Serrano was able to insert language, in both the bill and Committee report, that would prohibit EEOC from implementing any workforce repositioning, restructuring or reorganization plans without first consulting with the Committee. This language has been approved by the House. Furthermore, this week, Serrano and subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf (R-Va.) jointly requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) review the EEOC's overall reform proposals. The purpose of EEOC is to prevent employment discrimination by conducting enforcement litigation under various civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. Amendment on matricula consular passes in the HouseOn Tuesday, the House passed an amendment to strip language in the bill that would have prohibited financial institutions from accepting matricula consular cards as identification. The amendment, sponsored by House Financial Services Chairman Mike Oxley (R-Ohio) and Ranking Democrat Barney Frank (D-Mass.), prevailed by a vote of 222 to 177 during consideration of the FY 2005 Transportation and Treasury Appropriations bill. The matricula is a form of identification issued by the Mexican government to track and identify Mexicans in the United States. The version of the bill reported from the Committee included language that would have prohibited the Treasury Department from implementing regulations that permit financial institutions to accept the matricula consular as a valid form of identification. Congressman Serrano opposed this language during the full Appropriations Committee meeting on the bill, and applauded its removal by the full House. Mexican nationals often lack the forms of identification generally required to open bank accounts in the United States. By permitting banks to accept the matricula consular, the Treasury Department allows banks to reach new markets and allows Mexicans access to better, and more secure, options for handling their money. Serrano delivers Democratic Hispanic Radio AddressCongressman Serrano delivered the Democratic Hispanic Radio Address on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004, the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. In the address, Serrano stressed the need to act quickly on the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission) to protect Americans against further attacks. English and Spanish transcripts and Spanish audio of the address are available.
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