Henry Cuellar

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3980) to provide for identifying and eliminating redundant reporting requirements and developing meaningful performance metrics for homeland security preparedness grants, and for other purposes.

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. I want to thank the ranking member for his support and again thank Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Holden, Mr. Clyburn, and all of the folks who have worked so hard. I ask Members to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to support my amendment to the Rural Energy Savings Program. This amendment will direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide assistance and advice to the entities providing loans under this act to increase participation in the areas of high unemployment. This important amendment will go a long way towards making sure those areas that have been hit the hardest are about to take advantage of this legislation. As you know, unemployment is still a real problem for many Americans throughout the country. In my congressional district, as an example, I have two counties that are significantly above the national average for unemployment, which is about 9.4. Hidalgo County is suffering at 11.1 percent, and Starr County is at 17.3 percent. This amendment will make sure that these communities are not left out of this good piece of legislation. Under my amendment, USDA will provide its expertise to the entities providing loans for the purposes of outreach. This amendment will increase economic activity in the areas that need it the most while providing valuable energy cost savings. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Holden, and the other folks who have been working very hard, and also the ranking members. I thank you, and stand in strong support of this piece of legislation along with my amendment. I ask Members to vote ``yes'' on my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 521 on H.R. 2039, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I should have voted ``no.''

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sames Motor Company's one hundredth year in operation. Sames Motor Company is Texas' oldest dealership. This automotive company has accomplished a century of service to our community throughout the years. Founded in 1910 by William J. Sames, this successful and prospering company has been sustained through five generations of Sames, traditional values and great work ethic. It continues to be locally owned in Laredo, Texas and operated by the Sames family. The dealership started with humble beginnings with an inventory starting with three Ford Model-Ts. Today, it sells over 3,000 new vehicles and an excess of 4,000 used vehicles a year and employs over 400 workers through the Sames Auto Group. Within 4 years of its founding, a new location was needed for the booming business. By 1919, a new, grander location was established in downtown Laredo, which sold Ford, Cadillac, and other automobiles. Years later after World War II, Sames agreed with Ford Motor Company to be a dealership selling the Ford brand exclusively. The company continued to prosper under a succession of the Sames family, Harry E. Sames, Sr., son of W.J. Sames; Harry E. Sames, Jr., son of Harry, Sr.; and Harry ``Hank'' E. Sames III. In 1926 the dealership sold over a thousand Fords. By the 1960s and '70s, Sames Motor Company expanded to add three more locations in Laredo. The company, owned by the fourth generation of Sames, continued forward by acquiring Sames Red Barn, a dealership in Austin and expanding to Corpus Christi locations. Hank Sames developed the in-house financing division known as Thunderbird Auto Finance and launched the state of the art Sames Collision Center. Today, Sames Motor Company is owned by the fifth generation of Sames and thrives on traditional business values and excellent customer service. Sustaining a business for a century is not the only accomplishment of this establishment--community outreach and philanthropic contributions have come along with the success of Sames Motor Company. The founding of the Sames Scholars and the Driven to Success Programs is the only program of its kind for south Texas as an education based initiative. Evelyn Sames, fifth generation owner, implemented a new program called ``Mission: Give Laredo,'' which benefits Bethany House, a local charity. In 2009, Mission: Give Laredo raised over $100,000 and contributed food, clothing, and goods. Recently, working with city officials, Evelyn is developing the Tires for Life recycling and wellness program, which will commit to the youth to healthy living and recycling. Sames Motor Company has also been the recipient of numerous awards and recognition. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize Texas' oldest dealership and its 100th anniversary. Through outstanding service and a family owned business, Sames Motor Company has accomplished a century of dedication.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I certainly want to thank the chairman, Chairman Price, for the leadership in this emergency funding to be allocated to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice for enhanced Southern border security. And to all the border members, I as a border member understand why this is very important. Also I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Lewis, and also Mr. Rogers, for the work they are doing on this issue also. We join here today at a critical juncture of our border and homeland security. Now more than ever we need to allocate additional resources to our Nation's border. As the chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, and as a Congressman that represents 250 miles of the Texas-Mexico border, where I drink the water, breathe the air, understand the border very well, I can tell you that the communities I represent are on the front line of our Nation's border and homeland security. I recently got an official briefing by the Assistant Secretary of ICE, Mr. Morton, and got some of the most up-to-date threats facing us on our border. And certainly for our Members, I sure would like to show you some videos for anybody interested in seeing what is happening across the river. The threat is real, and we need to take action now, whether it is the 1,000 Border Patrol agents, the ICE agents, ATF, judiciary, or prosecutors that we are trying to add to CBP for our land ports and our airports, this is important. I am a little disappointed that the Senate took out the Operation Stonegarden, but we are working with Chairman Price to put that money back because that money is important for our local law enforcement. So, Madam Speaker, as a member of the border delegation, I certainly ask the House and Senate leadership to support this and other border security funding. This is not a Texas issue, nor a partisan issue. This is an American issue for the safety. So we stand up today for our communities, for our Federal, State, and local law enforcement to give them the additional resources that they need to secure our border. Finally, this is one step, and a critical step, forward in our ability to detect, deter, and disrupt illegal activity along the U.S.- Mexico border.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Assistant Chief Border Patrol Agent Willie Barber of the Laredo, Texas Sector Border Patrol. Mr. Barber has recently retired with a total of 31 years of government service to our great Nation. Willie Barber was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He has spent his career in 6 cities, driven by his devotion to service to our country. Agent Barber and his wife, Maria L. De La Rosa, have two children, Willie III and Renee DeLu. He began his career by serving 8\1/2\ years in the United States Air Force. He joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1988 and worked 7\1/2\ years in the station of Rio Grande City, Texas. He was later stationed in Brownsville, Texas, where he served as a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent. Following that, Agent Barber worked in Douglas, Arizona, as a Field Operations Supervisor. Afterwards, he traveled to El Paso, Texas, where he worked as Special Operations Supervisor. Barber then worked in Washington, DC, as an Assistant Chief in the Office of Border Patrol. Most recently, Agent Barber served as Assistant Chief Patrol Agent of the Laredo, Texas Sector Border Patrol. Agent Barber is a 2008 distinguished graduate of Harvard University's ``Senior Executive Fellows'' program and a 2004 graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had the time to recognize the dedication, commitment and leadership of Assistant Chief Border Patrol Agent Willie Barber.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Schertz Tales Magazine, the monthly publication of the City of Schertz, which was recently honored with four international `Awards of Distinction' at the 2010 Communicator Awards announced by the International Academy of the Visual Arts in New York City, New York. Schertz's award-winning entries consisted of the July 2008 Magazine Cover; billboard design for the 2008 Festival of Angels event; poster ad for Artz '09; and overall design for the Artz exhibit. Schertz' newsletter, founded in the mid-1980's, has evolved over the years into the popular monthly Schertz Tales Magazine format. Patterned after successful travel magazines and Texas-centric human interest publications, Schertz Tales Magazine's design reflects its namesake city's acclaimed quality-of-life and can-do spirit. Publisher Brad E. Bailey and his team have shaped the publication to offer important city news and business information while sharing interesting character profiles and local stories. Schertz Tales Magazine serves a vibrant, fast-growing community that does not have the tradition of a local newspaper, radio station or other source of news and, yet, fills that void effectively. In fact, Schertz Tales Magazine's transformation from newsletter to an internationally acclaimed metropolitan magazine mirrors the emergence of Schertz from a small town founded by German immigrants to one of the premier communities in the State of Texas. Backed by the creative genius of Graphic Designer Alexis Souza, the magazine continues to evolve and grow. With thousands of entries received from across the U.S. and around the world, the Communicator Awards program is the largest and most competitive awards event honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. Current International Academy of the Visual Arts membership represents a ``Who's Who'' of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms. Current and past staff members involved in the award-winning Schertz Tales Magazine include: Leslie Hernandez, Advertising Sales Manager; Mary A. Spence, Business Manager; Jessica Robinson, Event Coordinator; Chuck McCollough, Editor and Writer; and Chris Matzenbacher, Advertising Sales Director. City of Schertz City Manager Don Taylor, Assistant City Managers David J. Harris and John Bierschwale and the entire City Staff can be proud of the recognition bestowed through the IAVA. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the Schertz Tales Magazine, a valued and recently awarded news source.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Mr. Steve LaMantia, the award recipient for the 2010 Laredo Business Person of the Year. Mr. LaMantia is currently Vice-President and general manager of L&F Distributors in Laredo. Mr. LaMantia has contributed to the community of south Texas as a savvy businessman and plays an active role in many nonprofit organizations to benefit students and education. He is recognized as the Laredo Business Person of the Year at the Distinguished Business Awards Ceremony hosted by the Laredo Chamber of Commerce. Annually, the Laredo Chamber of Commerce awards and commemorates an individual that upholds characteristics of strong work ethic, integrity, a substantiated history as an established business, growth in number of employees, and philanthropy. Mr. LaMantia's business and presence of community-orientated projects have impacted the development and growth of Laredo and south Texas. Along with a profitable and successful business of L&F Distributors, he serves on several boards and civic organizations, such as Chairman of the Board of Laredo Medical Center, former President of the Washington's Birthday Celebration, Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas, Mr. South Texas Selection Committee, Border Olympics, and Cola Blanca, to name a few. He has volunteered his time at Saint Augustine High School, Boys and Girls Club, and coached the Gateway Girls Softball organization. His contributions to the area have impacted students and the education community greatly. In 1991, he formed a partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which raised over $5 million and awarded over 2,600 scholarships to students in south Texas over an eleven-year period. In 2003, LaMantia also helped to establish a nonprofit organization, South Texas Academic Rising Scholars (STARS), which provides scholarships to students to attend the college of their choice. STARS has raised over $9 million and have awarded scholarships to 4,100 students from south Texas. He has also been an extremely active member of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest. Mr. LaMantia also dedicates his time with his wife of 27 years, Linda and his five daughters. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize Mr. Steve LaMantia, the 2010 Laredo Business Person of the Year. He has truly impacted the business community and dedicated his time for many nonprofit organizations in south Texas and Laredo.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. I want to thank Chairman Price for taking the leadership in making sure that we provide the funding for the border. I certainly want to thank the authorizing chairman, Mr. Bennie Thompson, and all the Members here that have worked so hard, and the ranking member, also, for all the work that he has done. I live on the border, my family lives on the border, my brother is a sheriff there on the border in Webb County, so I understand what's been happening there on the border for the last 54 years that I have lived there. I would have to say that this would be the largest infusion of resources that the border has ever gotten at one particular time: 1,200 Border Patrol, ICE agents, ATF, FBI, other folks who make sure that we have the right mixture of technology, including two UABs that are so important to put eyes in the sky, and certainly to make sure that we get other communications to do this. This will allow us to make sure that we stop the drugs and make sure that we secure the border. And this is one point that is very important: if we secure the border, then we secure the rest of the United States. This is why this effort is so important. So, Chairman Price and the ranking member, I thank all of you for the work that you have done. And again, Members, I ask you to support this very important funding for the security of our Nation.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUELLAR. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Chair, my amendment is a commonsense amendment that ensures no taxpayers dollars will be used to purchase first-class tickets for employees of agencies funded by this bill except in special circumstances as allowed under law. This is, again, important because it does prohibit unapproved first- class travel and offers a direct method of guidance by referencing the Code of Federal Regulations to prohibit this type of premium travel for Federal employees. I think the chairman is in agreement with me that this is a way to save taxpayer dollars, and he's in agreement with this amendment.

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Laredo Coca- Cola Bottling Company's 100th year in operation. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company has provided Coca-Cola bottled products to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and the Laredo community for 100 years. This bottling company has accomplished a century of service to our community throughout the years. In 1899, Joseph B. Whitehead and Benjamin F. Thomas convinced The Coca-Cola Company that Coke should be sold in bottles, not just as a fountain drink. A few years later, in 1910, the Laredo Coca-Cola Bottling Company was established by Samuel N. ``Silas'' Johnson with an initial purchase of 51 gallons of syrup from The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia. The first address for the company was 2202 Montezuma Street. In the early years, bottling equipment was hand and foot- operated, and one hard-working employee could bottle 200 cases in 10 hours of work. In 1930, Samuel N. Johnson Jr. assumed ownership of the family bottling company and beer distributorship following the death of his father. Following the civic lead of his father, Samuel N. Johnson Jr. believed in the city of Laredo's potential to grow and prosper through innovation and team work. Samuel N. Johnson Jr. ran the Laredo Coca-Cola Bottling Company until his death in 1962. Under the terms of his will, the Company was held in a trust for two years and subsequently purchased by siblings Betsy Johnson Gill and Samuel N. Johnson, III, in 1964. Lamar Gill, Betsy Johnson Gill's husband, who was from a Coca-Bottling family in Beeville, Texas, took charge of the Company as president and manager; Betsy Johnson Gill served as vice-president; and Sam Johnson III served as president and sole owner of the S.N. Johnson Distributor and secretary-treasurer of the Laredo Coca-Cola Bottling Company. In 1973, plans were made to relocate the plant to North Laredo, moving the production end of the company in 1974 and the office in 1975 to the Del Mar Industrial Park--where the company still resides at 1402 Industrial Boulevard. On December 15, 1992, the company was sold to Coca-Cola Enterprises, and Tino Villarreal was appointed general manager, a position he still holds today. Laredo Coca-Cola Bottling Company has a long history of giving back to the community by supporting a variety of organizations and events throughout the area. The Laredo Coca-Cola Bottling Company currently has 98 employees and delivers beverages to more than 2,700 customers in four counties, covering 5,206 square miles. Many of the details of how the bottling business is run have changed greatly over the last century. From one package and one brand to more than 200 brands and 500 packages, the company now offers a portfolio of products that promotes total hydration and an active lifestyle. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have the time to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Laredo Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The Laredo Coca- Cola Bottling Company is celebrating 100 years of service for our community and continuing its mission for South Texas.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of an outstanding citizen of Pearsall, Texas, for his educational contributions to the community. Mr. Alfonso Obregon recently retired as a public school superintendent with 30 years of experience. He retires with an exceptional background, having earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in education administration. Mr. Obregon has dedicated 38 years to education, including 30 years as an accomplished superintendent. He started off in the 1970s teaching elementary and junior high school. He was promoted to superintendent for the Dilley Independent School District. From there he went to Progreso Independent School District, Asherton Independent School District and recently retired from the Charlotte Independent School District. Throughout his career, he has been one who has served the public and has taught our children the difference between right and wrong. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to have time to recognize Mr. Alfonso Obregon, a great educator for south Texas.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Act of 2010. The concept of this bill is simple: Create a lending fund to help small businesses get important capital. This bill will help stabilize our economy and create jobs. And certainly I want to thank the chairwoman from New York and the gentlewoman from Illinois also for the work that they all have been working on. My particular commonsense amendment is straightforward. My amendment requires that the Secretary take into consideration those areas with high unemployment rates that exceed the national average. This consideration will increase opportunities for small business development in places where it's needed the most. The national unemployment rate is about 9.7, as of last month. There are certain communities suffering at rates severely above the State and national average for unemployment. Like many counties across the Nation, counties in my congressional district are particularly higher than the national rate. One of my counties, Starr County in south Texas, has a high of 17.3 unemployment rate. Hidalgo County is another one, at an 11.1 unemployment rate. Again, this is not a partisan matter. Areas throughout the country have unemployment rates that exceed the national average. This is a matter of importance to every worker and family and businessperson. And that's why this bill is good for the backbone of American small businesses, in many ways, the Nation's economic engine. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. At this time I will yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from Texas, and thank him for the kind words. And I appreciate it. I thank him for the work that he's been doing. At this time, Madam Chair, I'd certainly just want to ask my colleagues to support this. I'm also a former small businessperson, and I understand how hard capital can be to get to the small businesses. So I would ask Members to support my amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Thank you very much, Madam Chair, for the leadership that both you and Chairman Towns have provided in the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and, of course, your staff that has worked so hard on making sure that we get this passed. My staff also has worked very, very hard on this. On the committee, also, I certainly want to thank Ranking Member Issa for his input and for his amendments also that we accepted and, of course, his staff also for getting this work done. I certainly want to thank the other stakeholders--GAO, CRS, CAP, OMB, the Blue Dog Coalition, and other folks that have worked to make this into a bipartisan bill. In particular, I want to point out my friend, Todd Platts, who has been working on this particular bill the last few sessions, building the foundation. And we went and looked at his bill, looked at some of the other things we were working on, and we put it together as a bipartisan bill. H.R. 2142 creates a results-oriented government; a government that works with the people in a commonsense concept that emphasizes a couple of things: One, increases government accountability while Federal agencies must identify cost-cutting, outcome-based goals that have a direct impact on the American people; shines light on ineffective Federal programs to root out wasteful spending, where they're held accountable where they have to provide those goals every quarter; and more importantly, senior management will be held accountable for this work. GAO oversight on the use of taxpayers' dollars to slash wasteful spending requires the GAO to perform frequent, detailed evaluations of the agency implementation of this legislation. And, finally, if I can say this, it will not add to the Federal deficit. As you know, the CBO says that it does not affect the direct spending or revenues. Moreover, discretionary costs will be offset by saving from a ``more effective management of agency-lowered costs.''

Mr. CUELLAR. Just to conclude, we added some specific language that says, ``Agencies shall fund the reporting requirements of this Act out of the existing budgets and authorized to make any necessary reprogramming of funds.'' So this addresses the issues of Mr. Chaffetz and some other folks, and I think this will be a good bill that we can all support in a bipartisan way.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 60th wedding anniversary of Mr. Raymundo M. Barrera and Mrs. Placida P. Barrera. I congratulate the couple on spending over half a century married and going strong together. The couple is native to South Texas and has contributed to the community through their careers and service. Raymundo was born in 1926 in Mission, Texas to Dr. Cayetano Barrera and Maria L. Martinez. That same year, Placida Pena was born to Reynaldo Pena and Josefa Ramirez in Guerra, Texas. Their life together began the day they met in Mission, Texas in 1940 at their young age of 14 years old. As fate would have it, Placida lived with her aunt and was next door neighbors to Raymundo's family. At the start of the World War II, a year later, Placida went back to live with her parents in Jim Hogg County in a community name Guerra or El Colorado Ranch. She graduated from the Rio Grande City High School in 1945. Eight years later, she went back to Mission and reunited with Raymundo. Raymundo had served his country by being recruited into the Army and served in Europe in 1945. After Raymundo and Placida saw each other, Raymundo went back to Delaware where he was stationed. The two corresponded through letters while they were apart. By March 1950, in one of the many letters exchanged--Raymundo asked Placida to marry him. By April, they were engaged and on June 4, they were married. Throughout the years, the two have been stationed at Laredo Air Force Base, South Korea, Yokota, Japan, and Kansas. By 1969, Sgt. Raymundo Barrera retired from the military and moved to Laredo, Texas. Following his retirement, Raymundo attended colleges in Laredo and received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Placida earned her bachelor's degree in education and taught in Roma, Texas. She taught for 21 years within the United Independent School District, in Laredo, Texas. In 2001, she retired. Today, Raymundo and Placida are retired in Laredo, Texas. They have been blessed with six children, 20 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. I congratulate Raymundo's and Placida's 60th wedding anniversary. They have experienced a great deal together, served the community of South Texas and the nation, and continue going strong jointly.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Edward Van Es, a business leader and entrepreneur who recently passed away. Mr. Van Es served the community of Laredo, Texas greatly through his contributions and grand business sense. Mr. Van Es was born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1931. During the war, at the young age of ten, he was put on a freighter across the water of Yesselmer to farmlands where he worked. As a young boy, he witnessed the German occupation of Holland and lost two years of school in that time, yet returned home after working for eight months. Eventually, his country recovered and Mr. Van Es was able to return to school and graduate. He also served his country by joining the Dutch Army for two years, as a mechanic on tanks. By 1953, Mr. Van Es immigrated to the United States where he lived in Los Angeles, California. He was a sports car auto mechanic and worked at a Jaguar dealership, servicing cars for Hollywood stars. He received his Bachelor's from California State College and his Master's from California State University in Long Beach. He became an educator-- teaching high school and after receiving his Master's became a college professor teaching manual arts. While teaching, Mr. Van Es had aspirations to fulfill as an independent franchisee for McDonald's. He became certified for his future business career by attending and graduating from Hamburger University in Oak Brook, Illinois. He developed a franchise in Laredo, Texas where the store's popularity grew and attracted tourists from Mexico and further. The franchise in Laredo broke all time sales in the industry. Thirty seven years later, a total of 16 McDonald's stores opened. Mr. Van Es became recognized as one of the top McDonald's Owner/ Operators in the corporation and received numerous awards. He served as Board of Director and Advisor to McDonald's Owner Association and was a member of the Ronald McDonald House Children's Charities amongst other organizations. Laredo Chamber of Commerce named him the Business Person of the Year in 2000. As a prominent rancher and savvy businessman, Mr. Van Es gave back to the community through his dedication and contributions to charitable organizations. His 37-year career not only employed thousands, but also came to be his extended family and a lifetime service for Laredo, Texas. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the late Mr. Van Es.