Henry Cuellar

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Mr. Souder and Mr. Cummings, and I also rise in favor of this particular bill. I want to thank Mr. Souder for the leadership he has taken on this very important bill that is so important to us and, again, Mr. Cummings, also for the work you both have been doing, your leadership and your bipartisan approach. I also want to thank my colleague from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for cosponsoring this amendment. My amendment to H.R. 2829 directs a study on the incidence of kidnapped, killed, and missing Americans along the United States-Mexican border. Within 180 days, the commission will submit a report to the U.S. Congress with recommendations on how to prevent these types of crime. According to the FBI, 41 Americans have been kidnapped in Mexico since August of 2004. Two have been killed, some have been returned, but there are still 22 missing Americans that we have not been able to find answers to. Last year, we witnessed a positive reaction from our country when we mobilized the resources to find the missing American in Aruba. It is my hope that we can also give the same type of attention to the missing Americans along the U.S.-Mexican border where many more people have gone missing. I fully understand that the Office of National Drug Control Policy is not an enforcement or investigative agency, but I believe, very strongly, that this office can be another group of minds that can help us try to find initiatives to help prevent American citizens from suffering the same or similar fate in the future. Since I have taken office, I have been asked by many of the mothers and fathers and the children of the missing Americans to help resolve the status of their loved ones. I believe that if we bring in many resources together that we can help to ensure we put a stop to these crimes, and hopefully give the families of these missing Americans some closure. Again, congratulations to Mr. Souder for the leadership that he has taken, and Mr. Cummings also, for coming together in a bipartisan approach. I believe this amendment is acceptable to both Mr. Souder and Mr. Cummings. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. CUELLAR. Yes, I want to thank Mr. Souder and Mr. Cummings once again for their leadership on this very important issue.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Shannon Allen for her heroic actions Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at Rayburn Elementary School in McAllen, Texas. At approximately 2:00 pm on Wednesday, an intruder entered the Rayburn Elementary School where Mrs. Allen is the Principal. Maria Tovar, the academic coordinator, escorted the intruder to the administrative office for failure to have a school identification card. Mrs. Tovar discovered the intruder was carrying a handgun and instructed him to place the weapon in a nearby waste basket. Mrs. Allen was informed of the situation and initiated a lock down of the entire school via code over the intercom. When Mrs. Allen approached the intruder he became agitated and attempted to reach for the loaded and cocked handgun in the waste basket. Mrs. Allen, out of concern for the safety of her students and staff, tackled the intruder to prevent him from retrieving the gun. Mrs. Allen was able to restrain the intruder with the assistance of Coach Jason Duon and custodian Joe Rico. Seconds later, Officer Ed Perez handcuffed and placed the intruder in custody. Mr. Speaker, Shannon Allen endangered her life to protect her students and staff at Rayburn Elementary School. Given her heroic actions, I rise to honor Shannon Allen.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Milton B. Lee for his impeccable record of service to the citizens of San Antonio, and whose achievements were recognized by the San Antonio-based Lighthouse Group on January 25, 2006. Mr. Lee, a lifelong Texan, is a native of Austin, where he accomplished a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1971. After graduating, he quickly launched his career at General Electric, where he oversaw nuclear steam supply systems, nuclear fuel, gas turbine generators and steam turbine generators. He was one of the formative members of the Texas Public Utilities Commission, and having testified as an expert witness in certification and rate proceedings, he has left his stamp on many of the regulations that govern my home state's electric utilities. Over the years, Mr. Lee also served as a member on a variety of boards and commissions, including his service in a leadership capacity within the Texas Public Power and American Public Power Associations, university boards, including the Huston-Tillotson University Board of Trustees and the University of Texas at Austin Engineering Foundation Advisory Board, and professional organizations, including the National Society of Black Engineers. Mr. Speaker, Milton Lee has risen to lead CPS Energy, formerly City Public Service and now the largest municipally owned energy company providing both natural gas and electric service. Serving as General Manager and CEO, Mr. Lee also serves as a much needed positive role model and an inspiration to the youth within our shared communities. Given his remarkable resume and his impressive accomplishments, today I rise to honor Milton B. Lee for his ongoing commitment to service, to scientific research within and outside of his particular field of expertise, and to excellence in everything that he executes.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the sesquicentennial of Atascosa County, which is a county in the 28th district of Texas and was founded in 1856. This year marks the 150th anniversary of Atascosa's beginnings and we will kick off a year long celebration at the annual Tux and Boots Ball on Saturday, January 28, in Pleasanton, TX. Mr. Speaker, Atascosa County is south of San Antonio on the Rio Grande Plain region of south central Texas. The first census taken in Atascosa County was in 1860 and counted 1,578 people. Today, Atascosa County's population is at more than 43,000 residents. The earliest schools in Atascosa County were organized around the time of the Civil War. By 1914, there were 37 schools in the county. By the 1940s the school districts had begun to consolidate. The total number of persons over the age of 25 who had completed 4 years of high school rose from 1,300 in 1950 to 2,083 in 1960. In addition, the number of residents with some college rose from 395 in 1950 to 473 in 1960. By the year 2000, when the census counted 38,628 people living in Atascosa County, over 65 percent of residents age 25 and older had 4 years of high school. Agriculture, government services, and some light manufacturing are key elements of the area's economy. The largest communities in the county are Jourdanton, the county seat, and Pleasanton, the county's largest town. Other communities include Campbelton, Poteet, Lytle, Charlotte, Christine, Leming, McCoy, and Peggy. Some of the county's wonderful attractions include the Poteet Strawberry Festival, the Jourdanton Days Celebration, and the Cowboy Homecoming and Rodeo in Pleasanton. As we look back on the last 150 years with pride, we also look forward to a promising future for Atascosa. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Atascosa County on their 150th anniversary and all of their accomplishments.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the important contributions of mentoring programs such as the One Star Foundation, an initiative established by the State of Texas, and the program HOSTS, Helping One Student to Succeed, in the Laredo Independent School District, which help students who are at risk of failing reading and or math by mentoring them with members of the community, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas program. The National Mentoring Month is important, and it serves as a guide to us in our communities to reach out to youth, to show them there is another way, that they should not give into despair, but instead give into the hope of a better future. Every time you reach out and mentor a child, you provide that child with a positive example of what an adult role model should be. Mentoring can be an invaluable resource for single-parent families, and low-income families, and it helps give the children the ability to succeed in school. There are over 156 mentoring programs in the State of Texas, and over 50 mentoring programs in my district working to give hope to children in urban and rural communities. These are excellent examples of how communities should come together to ensure that children have the best chance to succeed in their lives. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had this opportunity to honor the value of H.R. 660, which supports the goals and ideals of National Mentoring Month.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Raul Rodriguez who served as Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADBank) since October of 2000. Mr. Speaker, the NADBank, a U.S.-Mexico international institution created under NAFTA and headquartered in San Antonio, works to finance and develop needed environmental infrastructure projects in the border region such as water and wastewater treatment plants. Under the leadership of Mr. Rodriquez, the North American Development Bank has seen dramatic growth in its portfolio, and in its ability to help communities in the U.S.-Mexico border region improve their quality of life. Since Mr. Rodriguez took the reigns in 2000, the NADBank has increased the diversity of its programs in order to reach more communities, not only financing water and wastewater projects, but also developing projects in other environmental areas such as water conservation. Mr. Rodriguez has been instrumental in facilitating a higher level of coordination between the U.S. and Mexico on environmental issues of mutual concern. He is a true friend to the United States and a true advocate of the U.S.-Mexico border region. Mr. Speaker, San Antonio is proud to have dedicated service from Raul Rodriguez.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Roy Alonzo Sturges, a deputy in La Salle County which is in the 28th district of Texas, who served bravely in Southern Texas as a Chief Jailor Mr. Speaker, La Salle County commissioners voted unanimously in November to support the naming of the county detention center in Cotulla, Texas, the Roy Alonzo Sturges Law Enforcement Center, for his efforts to foil an attempted escape by a prisoner. On April 27, 1973, Mr. Sturges thwarted the attempt by a county prisoner but was injured in the process. Records indicate that Mr. Sturges was struck by the inmate with a wooden board, but the jailor was still able to get a door locked to stop the escape. After Mr. Sturges and his wife, who came to his aid after hearing the scuffle, secured the jail, they drove to the local sheriff's office. On the way, he reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack. Roy Alonzo Sturges was memorialized in Texas in 1994 as a fallen law enforcement officer. La Salle County is honored to have had such an outstanding gentleman serve the people of the 28th district. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to pay tribute to Roy Alonzo Sturges.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th birthday of Maria de los Angeles Obregon Pena who was born on the 23rd of December, 1905, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Maria de los Angeles Obregon Pena moved to Laredo, TX in 1910 with her two brothers and widowed mother. Her father, Gumaro Obregon, was the youngest brother of President Alvaro Obregon and was assassinated for political reasons. While in Laredo, Maria has memories of sitting on the rooftops in Laredo and listening to gun fire just across the border in Nuevo Laredo during the 1910 Revolution. Maria attended public school until the eighth grade when she was forced to leave to help the family make enough money to sustain itself. Later, on July 10th, 1933, she married Ramiro Santos Pena in Laredo. Together, they had three children, Pauline P. Baclesse of Mexico, MO, Ramiro A. Pena of Holland, TX, and Carlos D. Pena of Clear Lake, TX. Maria and Ramiro were both active members of the Primera Iglesia Bautista where their children were baptized. Maria credits her outlook on life and her faith in God for her longevity. Laredo is proud to have Maria as a citizen, and is pleased to celebrate her 100th birthday. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chance to honor a fine citizen of Texas.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the sesquicentennial of Atascosa County, which is a county in the 28th district of Texas and was founded in 1856. This year marks the 150th anniversary of Atascosa's beginnings and we will kick off a year long celebration at the annual Tux and Boots Ball on Saturday, January 28th in Pleasanton, TX. Mr. Speaker, Atascosa County is south of San Antonio on the Rio Grande Plain region of south central Texas. The first census taken in Atascosa County was in 1860 and counted 1,578 people. Today, Atascosa County's population is at more than 43,000 residents. The earliest schools in Atascosa County were organized around the time of the Civil War. By 1914, there were thirty-seven schools in the county. By the 1940s the school districts had begun to consolidate. The total number of persons over the age of twenty-five who had completed four years of high school rose from 1,300 in 1950 to 2,083 in 1960. In addition, the number of residents with some college rose from 395 in 1950 to 473 in 1960. By the year 2000, when the census counted 38,628 people living in Atascosa County, over 65 percent of residents age twenty-five and older had four years of high school. Agriculture, government services, and some light manufacturing are key elements of the area's economy. The largest communities in the County are Jourdanton, the county seat, and Pleasanton the county's largest town. Other communities include Poteet, Lytle, Charlotte, Christine, Leming, McCoy, and Peggy. Some of the County's wonderful attractions include the Poteet Strawberry Festival, the Jourdanton Days Celebration, and the Cowboy Homecoming and Rodeo in Pleasanton. As we look back on the last 150 years with pride, we also look forward to a promising future for Atascosa. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Atascosa County on their 150th anniversary and all of their accomplishments.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishment of Chris Jones, a Texas State University senior who was recently sworn in as the newest member of the San Marcos, Texas City Council. Mr. Speaker, Chris Jones is the first student to be elected to the San Marcos City Council in 33 years. He won the election because of his values, determination and hard work. Chris Jones was raised in the small West Texas town of Seminole between Lubbock and Midland. He is a graduate of Seminole High School and has completed undergraduate studies in Public Administration at Texas State University. Councilman Jones ran his campaign on the idea of a better future for San Marcos, one that includes bringing jobs into the city. His service to his community is extensive considering his age. He served as Student Body Vice President at Texas State and currently serves on the Chancellor's Advisory Board. He is an ambassador to the President of the University from the Student Foundation. He also served as President of Black Student Alliance and currently chairs the Student Chapter of the Texas State Alumni Association. On top of all of this, he has interned for Texas Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff and State Representative Patrick Rose. These achievements represent only a portion of his service, contributions that earned him an honor by the Dunbar Heritage Association in 2004 for his service to the community. Mr. Speaker, Chris Jones is a valuable asset to San Marcos and I am proud to have him in the 28th district of Texas.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Clyde P. Selig, president and CEO of Commercial Metals Steel Group, CMSG. CMSG ships around 2.4 million tons of steel a year, employs over 6,700 people and grosses close to $1.3 billion a year in sales. Mr. Speaker, Clyde Selig attended Clarkson College of Technology and graduated from the University of Maryland. He also served in the U.S. Army in various command and staff positions in Europe. Mr. Selig has served in many capacities with SMI-Texas including manager of maintenance and engineering, manager of steelmaking, works manager, vice president of operations and general manager before becoming executive vice president of CMC Steel Group Mills. He was appointed President and COO in February of 1997 and CEO in May of 2002. A strong believer in community support and involvement, Mr. Selig was one of the founders of the Seguin Boys' Club, and is a former president of the Seguin Chamber of Commerce. He also served as vice president of the City/County Hospital Board, including the Citizens Advisory Juvenile Board. Currently, he serves with the Rotarians. Mr. Speaker, the 28th district of Texas is proud to have such an outstanding civic leader living in San Antonio.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4011.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of the Texas State University Football Team that made it all tbe way to the semi-finals of the Division 1-AA playoffs. Mr. Speaker, Texas State University, which is located in San Marcos, Texas, represented their school with tremendous pride and ability. The Bobcats finished the season with an 11-3 record and a Southland Conference championship, their first conference championship since 1983. In only his second year, Head Coach David Bailiff and staff have taken the Bobcats from a good record in 2004 to a great one in 2005. Coach Bailiff and his staff will attempt to bring the national championship to San Marcos next year, a title that would be a restoration of the powerful tradition of Division II national championships in prior years. Texas State football players have made their school proud off the field as well. Several players have spent time in area San Marcos elementary schools mentoring the children in the community. The team was also honored to have six student-athletes named to the conference's All-Academic team, a testament to the dedication the coaches and players have to achieve in the classroom as well. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to celebrate Texas State's outstanding football season and I thank you for this time.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 80th anniversary of The Pals, an organization in San Antonio, Texas that has been helping young black women enter adulthood with more ease and grace through their annual Debutante Ball. Mr. Speaker, in 1925, four young ladies were meeting weekly for a social game of bridge. One of the women, Vivian Lowery Vincent suggested that they start The Pals. The name derived from the phrase ``pleasant attitude toward life.'' Others soon joined the group, and by 1927, these women envisioned a dream to present young, African American girls approaching adulthood to society. This dream became reality when The Pals hosted the first Debutante Ball in 1928. The Club members believed that the social life of young Black women in San Antonio would be more secure by having, in their background, the interest of older, caring, dynamic women. They also knew that, in the goal for the perpetuity of African Americans, there was an urgency to preserve ``gentility'' within the race. Subsequently, The Pals selected and sponsored debutantes to develop and promote social and civic awareness, cultural dignity, pride and sense of self. In 1979, The Pals were honored by the United Negro College Fund, Inc and presented the Fred D. Patterson Award and in 1992, the National Council of Negro Women, Inc honored The Pals for the organization's outstanding leadership toward the growth and development of the Minority Community of San Antonio. Each year accolades are received from parents, citizens and debutantes. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor The Pals for helping young women in our community.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the wedding anniversary of John and Frances Cuellar, a couple from South Texas who has been married for 50 years. Mr. Speaker, John Cuellar and Frances Gonzales were both born during the Depression and derived great family values from having little to their name. Family, honesty and love have led them to 50 years of happiness. They met while they were independently involved in the Catholic Youth Organization in Cuero, Texas. After they met, Mr. Cuellar joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to Maryland. The couple wed on Dec. 28, 1955 while John was home on leave for Christmas. They both moved to Maryland after their marriage to start their lives together. After his tour in the Navy was over, Mr. Cuellar joined the Texas Highway Department and then transitioned into law enforcement with the Cuero Police Department. At the close of his professional career, he was employed with the U.S. Marshall's office in Victoria, Texas. Mrs. Cuellar worked as a deputy county clerk and is now retired. She is a licensed nurse and prides herself on being so. The Cuellar's raised four children, John Jr., Mike, Ronnie and Tina. They have fifteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Texas is honored to have such a fine couple who has served Southern Texas faithfully and diligently. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor John and Francis Cuellar and I thank you for this time.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Juan Arechiga, Sr., a decorated World War II veteran and lifelong resident of Laredo, Texas who passed away Saturday, December 3, 2005. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Arechiga was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of Company F, 333rd Infantry, serving in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He served bravely from November 25, 1942 to December 9, 1945, when he was honorably discharged. For his dedication while in the service, he received the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, the EAME Campaign Ribbon with three bronze stars and a Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Arechiga was an electrician who was one of the founding members of the Laredo Electrical Association which was formed in 1948. As his business expanded, he developed a construction firm that was contracted to build the first Sears and Roebuck buildings in Barcelona, Spain and San Juan, Puerto Rico. When he returned to Laredo, he became a well-known residential contractor and established his own local construction company. Mr. Arechiga was an important part of Laredo's growth in the late 1970's and we are proud to have had such a respected person as a citizen of Laredo.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Reverend Stephen John Thurston, a man who has an unprecedented record of service in the Baptist Church. Mr. Speaker, Reverend Thurston is a third generation preacher and pastor in the historic New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. Thurston is also the youngest reverend to be named President of the National Baptist Convention of America, Incorporated. Reverend Thurston is a graduate of Bishop College in Dallas, Texas were he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion in 1975. He is also a highly sought after revivalist, and his ministry has affected the lives of people as far away as the Caribbean and Africa. Two of the numerous honors Reverend Thurston has received are America's Best and Brightest Young Business and Professional Men by Dollars and Sense magazine and Coordinator for Baptist World Alliance in Seoul, Korea. On November 29th, 2005, Reverend Thurston will be in San Antonio as a guest preacher for the Baptist Ministers Union of San Antonio and Vicinity Communities year end service. San Antonio is honored to host Reverend Thurston and is proud to have him as a guest preacher.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 125th anniversary of the University of the Incarnate Word, an institution of higher education in San Antonio, Texas that serves students from Texas, as well as throughout the United States and around the world. Mr. Speaker, the University of the Incarnate Word evolved when three sisters went to San Antonio to help serve people in need of health care and children in need of homes. After founding several hospitals and two orphanages, the sisters established Incarnate Word School, which began as an elementary and secondary school but has blossomed into a university that has a campus in Mexico City and one in China. The university's service is based on the belief in God, their love for God, and their desire to serve God's people. The university is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr. as president of the university. He is a great leader and his long service is a testament to the dedication of the school. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me the privilege of celebrating the 125th anniversary of the University of the Incarnate Word and the 20th anniversary of Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr. as president.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the seventh anniversary of Connolly and Company, a public relations, advertising and marketing firm in San Antonio which is located in the district I represent, the 28th district of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in 1998, T.J. Connolly had a vision which he put into practice. He recognized a void in public relations that he thought he could fill with a company specializing in message management. Connolly and Company was started with one telephone, two computers, a secretary and one client. Seven years later, it's a thriving public relations firm whose dynamic staff services clients in telecommunications, commercial real estate development, health care and law--among many others. Connolly and Company is an upstanding business in Texas that helps its many clients put their best foot forward. The firm has collected many awards and is regarded as one of the top firms in San Antonio. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had this opportunity to celebrate the anniversary of Connolly and Company.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 125th anniversary of the Holding Institute. The Holding Institute is a training facility that helps young Hispanic women, children and families improve their ability to read, write and speak English. Since Miss Nannie Emory Holding, a Methodist missionary teacher from Kentucky, helped a small group of Laredo women organize a school for girls on the north bank of the Rio Grande back in the early 1880's, the name Holding has meant educational opportunity to the residents of Los Dos Laredos. In 1987, Holding became a community learning center offering learning opportunities for adults, offering day and evening classroom instruction to women and men above 16 years of age who wanted to learn English as a second language, improve their Spanish, obtain their GED, gain work skills including computer literacy, or get ready for entry into college. Today, Holding is recognized for future projects that will take learning at Holding to another level for the 21st Century. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had this opportunity to recognize the Holding Institute, an invaluable learning center for many people in Laredo, for their 125 years of ministry and teaching.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is an amendment that adds a category of preferential consideration for witness protection grants for jurisdictions that share an international border and face a threat from cross-border crime. Basically, this would allow the border prosecutors an opportunity to protect the witness that sometimes fears that they might get a threat from international cross-border threats. I believe this amendment is acceptable to Chairman Sensenbrenner. Mr. Chairman, Chairman Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers, Congressman Scott, thank you for this opportunity to offer my amendment to H.R. 1751, the Secure Access to Justice and Court Protection Act of 2005. Crime and violence along the US-Mexico border presents unique challenges to the law enforcement community. Border crimes can be especially difficult to prosecute: a witness to a crime along the border may be hesitant to testify if he or she fears it is related to criminal activity across the border in another country. The Cuellar amendment is simple; it adds a category of preferential consideration for witness protection grants for jurisdictions that share an international border and face a demonstrable threat from cross-border crime. This category will benefit such jurisdictions that choose to apply for witness protection grants. We must provide prosecutors every means possible to adjudicate crimes along the border, and giving them preferential consideration for witness protection grants will help that goal.

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

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman.