an equal opportunity to share in those gains and in that economic reality so that we can share? As far as the communities are concerned, I think there is no doubt, and I am sure the committee has read enough reports about single-family homes. The black community has a large number of single-family, single-parent homes. Hispanics also have that problem. And when we talk about the cutbacks of Federal funding for many of our programs in the community, you are really hitting at the heart of many of these families that can ill afford to have any additional cutbacks, whether it be day-care centers, in our recreation and parks situation, where many of the parks are being either closed down now during the summer, or hours severely cut back because there is lack of money. Whether it be because the Federal Government has not been able to see it in their heart to supply more money, priorities are being placed on money that is available. And I understand what the priorities are. But I think people are priority, also. What do we do? There seems to be more money available to refurbish battleships, $500 million if I understand to get two battleships out of mothballs, and you cannot find $1 million for a Federal program to help parents to take their children off the street and give them some productive-channel those energies they have so they are not in gangrelated activities, give them something to go for, something useful. A million dollars, $1 million. What is $1 million in a $500 billion budget? Those are some of the things I think our community is looking at, and are very cognizant of the reapportionment within our State and our representation. I think these are things that we as Hispanics are looking at. We are getting more sophisticated in our approaches. I think you will see in the future, in the coming elections, we will be more of a force at the ballot box than ever before. And we will continue to be. Mr. ANDRADE. I would like to mention, according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census report, 11.3 million persons of Spanish origin live in the United States, with 85 percent residing in metropolitan areas. It is estimated that Los Angeles County and the surrounding communities have a Hispanic population of over 2 million. Nearly 1 million live in the county's San Gabriel region, which consists of approximately 841 square miles. Another 500,000 live within a 45square-mile area located in the east Los Angeles area. As a Hispanic employment program manager, I see many of the problems that we are facing in recruiting qualified Hispanics. One of them is that you have an Outreach center in the east Los Angeles area and man it with full-time staff to support the Hispanic employment program. Basically that is one of my main concerns right now. And I am sure Mr. Perez agrees with me on this issue. Mr. DYMALLY. Mr. Andrade, I don't think I quite understood the name of your organization. You are with the Los Angeles Air Force Station. Mr. ANDRADE. Los Angeles Air Force Station, Space Division. I am the Hispanic employment program manager. Mr. DYMALLY. You work for the Air Force? Mr. ANDRADE. Yes. I try to upgrade the representation of Hispanics within our organization. Mr. DYMALLY. Both of you are here to express your concern about employment opportunities for Hispanics within the Federal system. Mr. PEREZ. Primarily that is our function. We currently have proposed to the Office of Personnel Management-we have had a Federal Outreach center out in the east Los Angeles area for a number of years. Because of resources not being available to fully man that site the way we feel, as Hispanics, needs to have it manned, we have not been as successful in recruiting Hispanics as the statistics show we could be. The site has been opened-it is supposed to be open 3 days a week. It is a voluntarily manned center. The Federal agencies within the Los Angeles Basin have been asked to supply someone to man the center on a day-to-day basis. Well, priorities being what they are, I think the adverse effect of the GAO report on the special emphasis programs-we have not been as successful in getting people there everyday. And it is a continual perplexing problem The Outreach center is there to help all agencies to recruit Hispanics. It is in the largest Hispanic-percentage community that you can find. There is no logic to them not wanting to help. Mr. ANDRADE. I think one of the problems we have is that many of the Hispanic employment program managers-they fill these positions as collateral deeds, meaning they may be a part-time manager, 10 percent, maybe 25 percent of the time. It really creates a problem that they are not really that devoted on a full-time basis to solve some of the problems in the agency. As far as the phrase is concerned, I realize we have freezes off and on. I feel that we have had a freeze for 10 years, since 1970. It is no different now than it was back then. Mr. DYMALLY. Mr. Andrade, I notice you have some written testimony. If you wish, at some subsequent time, but soon enough, submit that written testimony to the committee. We will be glad to enter it into the record. Mr. ANDRADE. I brought some extra copies. Mr. DYMALLY. We thank you very much for coming. We appreciate your patience. I assure you the committee is going to take note of your testimony. I do have one prediction, Mr. Perez. I think you are going to do pretty well in the reapportionment this year. Mr. PEREZ. We hope so. I know there is a lot of gerrymandering going on right now. Mr. DYMALLY. If it is done in your favor, it wouldn't be too bad. Mr. PEREZ. I wouldn't mind that. The results have to be seen yet. Mr. DYMALLY. Thank you very much. [The prepared statement was subsequently received for the record:] In Reply Refer To: 1. Enclosed you will find a proposal for a Federal Recruitment Primariary the Federal hiring freeze enacted by former President Carter on March 1, 1980 and the use of poly volunteer help. The succ SS of the program can be measured by carefully compiled statistical information on various data sheets provided. 2. This proposal will allow a one-to-one relationship working with "quality" applicants and employces on a one-to-one basis in a central location and thereby compile a file of qualified applicants to be referred to existing or potential vacancies in the area. The proposal is cost effective and would cost the government only $5,400.00 per year. There would be no staffing cost since full time permanent HEP Managers would be reassigned from their respective Federal agencies to the central location. Space and equipment are also available at no cost. The only cost incurred would be for office supplies, telephones and utilities. ion 3. As you know, Mario, this proposal has been a topic of discu 691/134E1 Mr. Mario Perez Director, Greater Los Angeles EB/HER 4. We should get together son to review this proposal and strategies how it will be presented to the FEB. Mario, I expect to hear from you within the next week or so. Thesean off THOMAS R. SOSA Manager, Hispanic Employment Program |