Henry Cuellar

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker: Whereas, The nearly 2.9 million registered nurses in the United States comprise our nation's largest health care profession; and Whereas, A renewed emphasis on primary and preventive health care will require the better utilization of all of our nation's registered nursing resources; and Whereas, Texas Nurses Association has had a mission to advance nursing through leadership, advocacy and innovation; and Whereas, Texas Nurses Association was founded on February 22, 1907 in Fort Worth, Texas with a group of 19 nurses as the Texas Graduate Nurses' Association and is the oldest professional nursing association in Texas; and Whereas, Texas Nurses Association has advocated to improve the practice and perception of nursing and to ensure quality care for all Texans; and Whereas, The demand for registered nursing services will be greater than ever because of the aging of the American population, the continuing expansion of life-sustaining technology, and the explosive growth of home health care services; and Whereas, Texas Nurses Association has been successful promoting the growth of the nursing practice by getting the Nursing Shortage Reduction Act of 2001 to increase nursing school enrollments; and Whereas, That more qualified registered nurses will be needed in the future to meet the increasingly complex needs of health care consumers in this community; and Whereas, Texas Nurses Association in 2007 celebrated 100 years of advocating for professional nursing in Texas; and Whereas, Along with the American Nurses Association, the Texas Nurses Association has declared the week of May 6-12 as NATIONAL NURSES WEEK with the theme `Nurses: Building a Healthy America' in celebration of the ways in which registered nurses strive to provide safe and high quality patient care and map out the way to improve our health care system; therefore Be it hereby Resolved, That Congressman Henry Cuellar, in representing the 28th Congressional District of the State of Texas, honors the Texas Nurses Association.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hidalgo County Independent School District for their outstanding achievements this past year. Today, the Hidalgo school district will be presented with the 2009 College Board Inspiration Award. This prestigious award is presented to only 3 secondary schools in the country which have exhibited outstanding college preparatory programs and partnerships among teachers, parents and community leaders. Earlier this month, Hidalgo Early College High School was named one of the countries three secondary schools to receive this year's Inspiration Award. As one of the most improved secondary schools in the country, Hidalgo Early College High has shown its desire to provide quality programs for its students. This award shows the commitment that these educators in Hidalgo County have for their community, state, and nation as they help prepare and educate tomorrow's leaders. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Hidalgo County Independent School District for their extraordinary accomplishment in having one of the selected schools to receive the 2009 College Board Inspiration Award. Hidalgo Early College High School's students, staff and administrators truly deserve our recognition today for setting such a fine example to the rest of the state and the nation as a whole.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ron Tupper for his 25 years of service to the health care field through his work in health care development and consultation, health education, and hospital and clinic management. He has done so much over the years for the border region and he truly deserves to be recognized today. Mr. Tupper holds a master's of science degree in health management and health education from Texas State University, as well as a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska. He also served our country proudly for 7 years as a U.S. Air Force Medical Serviceman until he was honorably discharged in 1970. Ron Tupper has been instrumental over the years to bringing quality health services to citizens in the border regions of Texas. He started in 1974 with his first assignment on the Texas-Mexico border and soon afterwards he was elected one of the youngest CEOs to serve an accredited rural hospital in Texas. Later he would help secure a marketing plan and matching funds to develop a rural public health academic training program on the border. At the University of Texas Health Science Center, Mr. Tupper was responsible for coordinating medical education opportunities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Over the past few years he has worked with the city of McAllen and the clinic board to secure a site for the community clinic which treats 130 working poverty stricken Hidalgo County residents daily. The facility, which started out as a 3-examination- room clinic, is now a 25,000 square foot facility that operates with 48 examination rooms. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Ron Tupper for his dedicated service to the field of health care in the State of Texas. He has committed so much through the years to advance his cause and I am honored to have the privilege of recognizing him today.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the late Manuel Benavidez, Jr. for his service to the people of Starr County, the State of Texas, and the education community across the country. His life was a symbol of what hard work and desire can achieve. He was a respected member of his community and of the State of Texas and we will all miss him dearly. Mr. Benavidez was born in La Grulla, Texas in 1952. A former migrant farm worker, he graduated from Rio Grande City High School and later attended Pan American University where he received a bachelor's degree in bilingual education. Education has been a focal point in Mr. Benavidez's life, where he has not just worked to educate himself but has dedicated himself to helping others enhance their lives through study. In 1993, he was appointed to the South Texas College Board of Trustees as the representative for Starr County. He worked tirelessly to bring the first community college to the area and through the years he has been instrumental in bringing millions of dollars to the county for STC campuses. His testimony in support of the dual enrollment program was key to getting legislation passed that has helped families across Texas save millions of dollars on the cost of college tuition. His life has revolved around the idea of bettering his community by giving the residents of Starr County an equal opportunity to accessing higher education. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Manuel Benavidez, Jr. for his lifetime of dedicated service to Starr County and to the education community across the country. He was a husband, a father, and an inspiration for all of us. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker: Whereas, the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce promotes economic development and assists businesses to access the Hispanic market through networking, promoting education and nurturing leadership; and Whereas, Mayor Brand born August 12, 1919 in Grayson, Georgia one of six children to Homer and Ilee Brand. Whereas, Mayor Brand with his unfaltering patriotism served the United States in World War II as a U.S. Marine; and Whereas, Mayor Brand returned from World War II to continue to work tirelessly building the produce company that would become Griffin & Brand Produce of McAllen and ultimately relocating to McAllen, Texas in 1954; and Whereas, Mayor Brand always ready for a new challenge served the City of McAllen as City Commissioner and then as Mayor for 20 years. Mayor Brand's leadership and vision was instrumental in creating the City of McAllen of today, a thriving modernized city; and Whereas, Mayor Brand's dedication to the youth of McAllen is evident through the founding of the Boy's and Girls' Club of McAllen that today supports a large number of youth programs, and his work to obtain land for the McAllen ISD that is now home to a high school, a city park, and a number of sports fields; and Whereas, Mayor Brand played a central role in the development of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation that has brought a number of industries to the area that today employ thousands of McAllen citizens; and be it hereby Resolved, That Congressman Henry Cuellar, in representing the 28th Congressional District of the State of Texas, honors Former McAllen Mayor Othal Brand.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Norman A. Townsend for his service to the people of the State of Texas and the nation as a whole. As he prepares to move forward with his career of public service with the FBI, we proudly honor him for his five years of service to the Laredo Resident Agency where he has served as a senior supervisory agent. Mr. Townsend earned a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a Master's in Criminology from Central Oklahoma University in Edmond before he began his career with the FBI on July 5, 1977. He worked as a fingerprint examiner and an accounting technician in Oklahoma City before attending the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia in 1984. Later that year he was assigned as a special agent to the Houston Division in Beaumont, Texas where he performed a number of investigations and continued his dedicated service to the bureau. On August 4, 2003, Mr. Townsend transferred to the San Antonio Division in Laredo, Texas where he worked as a Supervisory Senior Agent. For the past five years, he has served the community, the state, and our country under the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Laredo. He has supervised agents, task force officers, and support personnel as they conducted investigations on public corruption, white collar crime, and joint task force terrorist investigations. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Norman Townsend for his five years of dedicated service to the FBI Laredo Resident Agency and his 31 years of service to the FBI as he prepares to move forward with his career in the bureau.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. I thank Chairman Miller for the work that he has done on this bill. I rise to support the manager's amendment which has language from an amendment that I have submitted. This language goes a long way to support the poor communities in different parts of the Nation, especially around the southern border. In particular, I'm talking about adding the definition of colonias as part of the definition of ``severely economically distressed areas'' that under this bill receive special financial consideration in the operation of national volunteer services. Colonias are found in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California along the border. These colonias are areas that have no water, no sewage or paving. It is almost Third World conditions, Mr. Chairman and Members of Congress, where we have to do something to help these people. Just in my area, for example, it is estimated in the State of Texas that we have over 400,000 Texans that live along the border in colonias. This help will go a long way, and this is why the manager's amendment that includes my language gives critical financial assistance to the areas that contain colonias to facilitate the operation in support of national service programs that are working to solve many of these problems in colonias. With this amendment, we are one step closer to helping colonias to have the basic living conditions that all Americans deserve. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for allowing this language to be added dealing with colonias. I urge all colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chair, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to support the manager's amendment to the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. The manager's amendment I support builds upon the strong nature of this bill, and addresses several additional needs. I thank the distinguished Chairman for including 2 of my amendments in the manager's amendment. These important amendments will go a long way towards helping communities along the southern border. My first amendment, included in this manager's amendment, authorizes the EPA to Study wastewater treatment facilities that discharge into the Rio Grande River, develop recommendations for improving monitoring, information sharing, and cooperation between the Unites States and Mexico. Last EPA study of pollutants in the Rio Grande River took samples from November 1992 to December 1995. Since 1992 Laredo alone has doubled in population. I applaud inclusion of this requirement because knowing the dangers that exist in pollution in the River is the first step in protecting a national treasure. I also wish to offer my support for the Manager's amendment's recognition of the ongoing crisis that exists on the United States' southern border with impoverished families living in Colonias. Colonias can be found in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, but Texas has both the largest number of colonias and the largest colonia population. According to the State of Texas, about 400,000 Texans live in border colonias. The development of Texas colonias dates back to at least the 1950s, when developers created unincorporated subdivisions using agriculturally worthless land or land that lay in floodplains or in other rural properties. They divided the land into small lots, put in little or no infrastructure, and then sold them to low-income individuals seeking affordable housing. The manager's amendment includes my plan to direct the Government Accountability Office to present to Congress a blueprint to properly address the problems that exist in these low income communities. Mr. Chair, I applaud you on this important Manager's amendment, and I urge all my colleague to vote ``yes.''

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my fellow Blue Dog Democrats in strong support of House Resolution 40. I want to thank Mr. Tanner, Mr. Cardoza and Chairman Towns for the leadership that they have provided on this subject matter. When you look at taxpayers, taxpayers want a government that is efficient, effective and accountable. This is what this legislation does. It does provide an efficient, effective and accountable government. It is always difficult for Congress to agree on exactly where America's tax dollars should go, but we all agree on where they should not go. In these difficult economic times, America can scarcely afford to throw tax dollars into the waste bin of fraud, abuse and mismanagement. Unfortunately, in the battle against waste, Congress does not have enough information, and we do not have any formal mechanism to investigate allegations of wasteful spending. This legislation sets up a mechanism. This is why today's legislation is a major step towards strengthening government accountability. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 40. I thank Mr. Tanner, Mr. Cardoza and Mr. Towns for their leadership.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Growing up as the son of migrant parents, I was among the millions of American children who had no health insurance. When someone in our family got sick, seeing a doctor simply wasn't an option. I got lucky. Even without health insurance, I grew up into a healthy adult. But I could just as easily have ended up going untreated for a chronic disease or serious injury, and a lifetime of opportunities would have evaporated. It is unacceptable that 1.4 million Texas kids continue to bear that risk today. When I served in the Texas State House, I had the honor of launching the first CHIP program in Texas at Farias Elementary School in Laredo. The program later expanded statewide, and today, it has helped millions of Texas families--families like the one I grew up with--afford to see a doctor. In these difficult economic times, as millions of Texas families struggle with job losses and pay cuts, CHIP is more important than ever. For families living on the financial edge, CHIP is a critical source of care, support, and peace of mind.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today in recognition of the 50th Wedding Anniversary for Encarnacion `Carny' Arevalo Guerra and Emma Flores Guerra. The lives of these individuals have been uniquely American, and this Golden Anniversary of theirs is a special moment for not only them, but for their family and friends. Encarnacion Arevalo Arevalo was born May 15th, 1940 in McGregor, Michigan to Sacarias Bonilla Guerra and Ines Arevalo. Emma Flores Guerra was born December 13th, 1940 in San Antonio, TX to Alfredo Saucedo Flores and Ofelia Cavazos Flores. From San Antonio, Emma's family moved to Saginaw, Michigan that she met Encarnacion. Both fathers of the honored couple worked at General Motors during the 1940's, a crucial period when manufactures were devoting all effort to preparing the military with proper equipment. Music played an important role in both of their lives. As children they loved music and would attend weekly dances in Saginaw, Michigan as young adults. This later would inspire them to start a business. When both were in junior high, attending Central Junior High in Saginaw, Encarnacion played the saxophone, and Emma the French horn. This is where they met and began their relationship. Not all went as planned however as Emma's family was forced to move back to San Antonio. This would not stop their relationship however. The young couple stayed in touch by writing letters to each other at every chance they had. It was January 10, 1959 that the two married in a large ceremony at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. After marriage, Encarnacion supported his growing family with his continued employment at General Motors in Saginaw for 10 years. It was during this time that the two welcomed 5 daughters into their family: Cynthia, Sylvia, Judith Ines, Belinda, and Elaine. After leaving GM, the family moved to Laredo, Texas. It was here the couple purchased and converted the Bowl-A-Rama into what we now know as the ``Casa Blanca Ballroom''. The Ballroom has become a landmark and has held a prominent place in the lives for Laredoans for almost 40 years now. From here the couple went on to purchase their first radio station in Nuevo Laredo and name it ``Radio Canon''. This proved to a wise investment, and the Guerra's later purchased share holdings in seven more radio stations. After a short try at retirement, the two returned to the business and acquired three new radio stations: Z-93, Energy 98, and K-Onda. In 1995, the couple moved to San Antonio, but remain active in the communities. Today, when Encarnacion is not tinkering in his garden, the two are fulfilling their dream of traveling the world. The Guerras are a vibrant example of living the American dream. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating them on the 50th Wedding Anniversary not just as local icons in Texas, but model citizens of the United States of America. They are true stewards of the American dream, and I celebrate them and thank them for their contributions to the Great State of Texas.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 15th Anniversary of South Texas College to congratulate them for enrolling 22,000 students, the highest amount enrolled in South Texas College's history. The South Texas College was created by the Texas legislature in 1993 and signed into law by former Governor Ann Richards. They are only one of three community colleges in Texas accredited to offer bachelors degrees and the only community college in the state to offer two Bachelor of Applied Technology Degrees. Their faculty and staff of over 1,500 have been leaders in higher education by not only providing education to college students, but by providing unique workforce training programs and the College Express dual enrollment high school program. Partnered with sixteen school districts in Hidalgo and Starr Counties, these programs help minority students find a pathway to higher-paying careers in math and science. In recent years, South Texas College received the MetLife Foundation's 2008 Community College Excellence Award for promoting educational and economic advancement, thirty-one Excellence Awards from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development in 2008, and the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 2003 through 2007. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize South Texas College for their record enrollment in 2008, and I thank you for this time.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my dear friend, Carlos Marin, the United States Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission, IBWC. On September 15th, he departed with his IBWC Mexican counterpart, Mr. Arturo Herrera, on a chartered flight to survey the flooding of the Rio Grande River along the border area of Presidio, Texas, and Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. While working to assess the damage and coordinate joint-response efforts with the local officials and the Mexican Government, their chartered flight crashed, taking the lives of all those aboard, in a remote area of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Mr. Marin joined the IBWC as a staff engineer in 1979, and he rose through management and executive positions through 2006, when President Bush appointed him as U.S. Commissioner to the IBWC. Our Nation has lost a true public servant who worked for a quarter of a century with the International Boundary and Water Commission on issues such as water debt, and most recently the rehabilitation of the levees in Hidalgo County. He was one of the few that understood the water issues facing the border region, and was a friend to everyone in South Texas. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to the others who were on the plane with him. His tragic passing leaves a void in our hearts and minds. I am personally saddened to lose a wonderful friend; and it will not be the same working with the IBWC without Carlos as its commissioner. His exemplary dedication and service to the South Texas community have been crucial to future development, especially with the much-needed levee repairs that helped save residents in my district from flooding during the hurricanes this past summer. We in our South Texas community will be forever grateful to Carlos for his contributions, and I thank his family for their support of Carlos' work with IBWC. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to honor the memory of Mr. Carlos Marin.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Federico ``Kiko'' Zuniga, of Laredo, Texas, in recognition of his being elected Chairman of the International Federation of Customs Brokers Association (IFCBA) during their biannual conference in Istanbul, Turkey. The IFCBA is made up of customs broker organizations from 27 countries around the world, and is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Zuniga has been a member of the IFCBA board since 2003, and for the past 2 years has served as one of the organization's managing directors. In addition to being a part of IFCBA, Mr. Zuniga also is Chairman of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), and prior to that, served as the president of NCBFAA for 4 years. He is currently a member of the Department Advisory Committee for the commercial Operation of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) and related agencies. Mr. Zuniga has been a licensed customs broker since 1984 and is part owner of F. Zuniga, Inc., the brokerage his father started in Laredo, Texas. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the hard work and dedication of Mr. Federico ``Kiko'' Zuniga to the City of Laredo, to his wife, Bobbie, and to his family. He is a truly deserving recipient of the great honor of being elected chairman of the International Federation of Customs Brokers Association.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Marlowe family, and their father, Edward Marlowe, for the bravery they have shown in supporting their father's career with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in La Paz, Bolivia, which is a part of the DEA jurisdiction known as the Southern Cone Region. The Marlowe family lived and worked in Bolivia in the Southern Cone Region which consists of Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. These countries are considered to be transit zones for the movement of cocaine base, cocaine HCL, and heroin being shipped from Colombia and Peru to market in the United States. The DEA has the largest international presence of any federal law agency, with 87 foreign offices in 63 countries. Mr. Marlowe, as a DEA agent, has served our Nation with courage, vision, and determination in protecting our communities from the dangers of narco-trafficking violence during his service in Bolivia. He contributed to the crackdown on these dangerous drug cartels by working to stop the distribution and manufacture of these drugs from entering the market. I thank the Marlowe family, especially Edward's wife, Violet, and their daughter, Joelle, for standing firm in the face of the dangers they faced while staying in Bolivia. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have this time to recognize the Marlowe family for their bravery and determination they showed during Mr. Marlowe's service in Bolivia.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Most Reverend James A. Tamayo, the Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo. Bishop Tamayo has admirably served those of Catholic faith in the community of Laredo, Texas, for the past 10 years at San Agustin Cathedral, the oldest Catholic Church in south Texas. His passion for helping the religious community and his dedication to his calling has made Bishop Tamayo an essential part of the community in Laredo. Bishop Tamayo came to heed the call of religious service by attending St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, Texas. From there, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. After that, Bishop Tamayo became the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston- Houston in 1993, and then went on to become Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo in 2000. Bishop Tamayo currently serves on the Texas Board of Directors in the Texas Catholic Conference as well as the Texas Conference of Churches. He is a member of the Boy Scouts National Hispanic Initiative Committee, building upon the great relationship he has established with the youth in the interfaith community. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Bishop James A. Tamayo for his service to the Diocese of Laredo. Words cannot express how much he has done for the people of the city of Laredo and the surrounding communities. His quest to serve others and his desire to better the lives of those in Laredo is truly commendable. I thank you for your time.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Cpl. Miguel Rodriguez on his retirement from the Texas Department of Public Safety, where he served his State and country honorably for 28 years. In his 28 years with the Department of Public Safety, Corporal Rodriguez performed a multitude of tasks, such as serving as field training officer in the induction of new officers to the Department, training them on driving, firearms, and accident reconstruction. He helped foster the training of Mexican highway patrolmen, served on interview promotional board for troopers, and worked as chairman on grievance board hearings. Corporal Rodriguez also served on security staff for President George Bush, Sr., on his visit to the University of Texas at Austin. His awards include the District Commander Award, Region Commanders Award, Commanders Accommodations, and Quarter Century Club. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the dedication and commitment of Cpl. Miguel Rodriguez to the State of Texas, and to the United States of America upon his retirement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the Federal Bureau of Investigation agency, and the brave men and women that work at the FBI Laredo Resident Agency, LRA. The FBI LRA was established in 1943, during the height of World War II, with four Special Agents assigned to the U.S.-Mexico border. The FBI LRA was staffed throughout the end of World War II and during the Cold War with a particular focus on counter-espionage and sabotage. The focus changed during the 1960s and 1970s to a spate of new crimes involving fugitives and vehicle theft. The mission of the FBI LRA was expanded to public corruption, interstate theft, fraud, and general property crimes during the 1980s and 1990s. Currently, the FBI LRA investigates terrorism, public corruption, white collar crime, kidnappings, gangs, drug cases, and cyber crime. Also, the FBI LRA has established a Joint Terrorism Task Force, JTTF, and a Public Corruption Task Force in the past few years to respond to potential terrorist threats and drug-trafficking violence in the U.S.- Mexico border region. Throughout the decades, the FBI LRA has evolved to meet the crime prevention needs of each decade in its five-county area of Webb, McMullen, La Salle, Zapata, and Jim Hogg, with over 30 Special Agents and support staff. The FBI LRA also works with Laredo Police Department, Office of the Inspector General--Department of Homeland Security, Department of Public Safety, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Border Patrol. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the commitment of our brave men and women at the FBI Laredo Resident Agency and I applaud their efforts to safeguard the lives of my constituents along the U.S.-Mexico border, and to serve their Nation honorably. I thank you for this time.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sisters of Mercy on the 10th anniversary of their establishment of Casa de Misericordia (CASA), a shelter that provides safety, planning, education, and support for victims of domestic violence and their children. In 1997, Sister Rosemary Welsh and her staff of health care providers from Mercy Primary Health Care Programs recognized the lack of existing community support for victims of domestic violence and their children in Laredo, Texas. A starting grant and local community support enabled them to open the doors of Casa de Misericordia. The shelter provides court accompaniment, assistance with VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) applications, and takes in victims of domestic violence and their children, not just from Webb County, but from other counties and states as well. CASA obtained independent non-profit status by becoming a 501(c)3 in 1999, and became an annual contracting agency with the State (TDHS) in 2001. CASA received funds from the United Way and from the Office of the Attorney General. It is due to the efforts of Sisters of Mercy and to the hardworking staff that CASA has been able to help thousands of victims of domestic violence and their children. CASA is committed to involving the community in changing the perception of domestic violence, and has dozens of volunteers from Laredo Community College, Texas A&M International University, and local high schools in raising awareness about the mission behind CASA through the new Lamar Bruni Vergara Education Center, which was opened in 2004. The Education Center provide counseling, support groups, educational classes, and summer activities to members of the community who suffer from domestic violence but do not need shelter services. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the dedication of Sister Rosemary Welsh and the Sisters of Mercy, and their staff, on the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Laredo's only domestic violence shelter, Casa de Misericordia.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Blackstone Dilworth in recognition of his being named the 2008 Laredo Business Person of the Year by the Laredo Chamber of Commerce on June 26, 2008. This award recognizes his remarkable dedication to the city of Laredo as a business entrepreneur. McMullen County is where it all began for Mr. Dilworth, where he was called upon to oversee his family's ranching, oil, and gas operations in the mid 1970s. He managed over 50,000 acres spread over four south Texas counties, and his land was often used for commercial hunting operations. In 1983, Mr. Dilworth went on to found Towers of Texas, a communication tower leasing company. He focused his communication business on the digital cell phone tower market in the late 1990s, enabling the construction of over 500 tower sites across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Along with the expansion of his tower business, Mr. Dilworth planned and executed the development of a family ranch in north Laredo. The relatively new addition to Laredo has already created a solid reputation for itself, boasting of industrial, commercial, and residential development. From the beginning of Mr. Dilworth's ownership of the San Isidro ranch, he has tried to develop a quality place to live and work for Laredoans. Toward that end, he donated over 120 acres of land for Loop 20 as well as for the extension of McPherson Road to connect to the Loop. In the years following, the land for the United Day School was donated by the Dilworth family. The land for the fire station north of the Loop on McPherson was also donated to the city. Mr. Dilworth's newest venture in the business world is in the hospitality industry, with addition of the new Best Western Motel on the corner of Sandia Drive and Loop 20. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the hard work and dedication of Mr. Blackstone Dilworth to the city of Laredo, to his wife, Frances, and to his family. He is a truly deserving recipient of the 2008 Laredo Business Person of the Year by the Laredo Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 445, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I also want to thank Chairman Bennie Thompson who has done a great job as the chairman. He has allowed what I call the free market of ideas to work well. That is if a Member comes up with an idea, we will go through the process and after that if it is a good idea and will protect our homeland, he has given us an opportunity to come up with and move those ideas; so thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the ideas is of course H.R. 1333 which is the one that Ranking Member Charlie Dent has brought forward. It is an idea that would allow us to supplement the security of our country. So I certainly want to thank Mr. Dent for the idea and of course for moving this great idea forward. I support this particular bill because it allows the GAO to conduct a study to determine how the Civil Air Patrol can help support our homeland security missions. The Civil Air Patrol has long served our Nation. The Civil Air Patrol began at the onset of World War II, patrolling the coastlines of America, protecting the shores of our great Nation from foreign threats. Since that time, the Civil Air Patrol has regularly assisted States, and that includes also my State of Texas, with search and rescue operations and emergency response. The Civil Air Patrol welcomes this opportunity to play an expanded role in homeland security operations as that role will be defined by the Comptroller General, the Department of Homeland Security, and of course by the United States Congress. This study will give the Secretary of Homeland Security the ability to consider the use of the Civil Air Patrol to provide aerial assistance to the Department of Homeland Security agencies that are responsible for protecting America against illegal entry and trafficking of people and contraband. Being from Laredo, Texas, and representing Webb, Starr, Zapata and Hidalgo counties on the border, I do understand why we need this assistance. And I think the way it has been crafted by Mr. Dent, this will allow Homeland Security to use these extra assets on the border to give us the extra protection that we need to make sure that we protect ourselves. So I certainly feel that the Civil Air Patrol can not only provide protection on the border, but also respond to acts of terrorism, natural disasters and other man-made events by assisting in damage assessment, search and rescue operations, and evacuations. I thank my colleague, Charlie Dent, and my chairman, Chairman Bennie Thompson. I know Michael McCaul will also speak about how this will help in Texas, and other efforts. Again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1333.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Childers. I also want to thank Chairman Bennie Thompson of the Homeland Security Committee and Chairman Barney Frank of the Financial Services Committee, as well as Chairwoman Maxine Waters of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity and our ranking members, also, for working together on this piece of legislation. I, too, congratulate our two newest Members of the House, Congressman Cazayoux from Louisiana and Congressman Childers from my home State of Mississippi for drafting H.R. 6276. As you know, earlier this month, Ms. Waters and I teamed up to hold a hearing examining the roles and responsibilities of HUD and FEMA in providing affordable housing to disaster victims under the direction of Chairman Frank and Chairman Thompson. During this hearing, there was confusion as to which agency is responsible for providing disaster recovery funds to public housing authorities damaged during disasters. The Public Housing Disaster Relief Act of 2008 will strike section 9(k) of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 clarifying the funding structure for public housing authorities in the wake of disasters. After Hurricane Katrina, housing authorities received no funds from the 9(k) account, and it's not hard to see that this account is no longer needed. In fact, this account only caused us confusion as to who is responsible for providing disaster recovery funds to public housing authorities. Let's do our part to eliminate this confusion. This legislation, H.R. 6276, will eliminate the 9(k) account and clarify the funding structure by identifying FEMA as the responsible party for providing assistance to public housing authorities through the Stafford Act. We need to streamline government and provide services to our constituents in a more efficient and effective manner, and this is exactly what H.R. 6276 does. So I encourage our Members, all of my colleagues, to support H.R. 6276. Again, I congratulate both Mr. Cazayoux and Mr. Childers for bringing up this good piece of legislation.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Raquel Gonzalez, for her commitment to the small business community in Laredo, Texas, and her tenure as the longest-serving member of the board of trustees at the Laredo Community College. Raquel spent her early years learning the value of hard work at her father's business, J.B. Gonzalez Garage. Upon graduation from high school, she became the full-time manager of her father's business, which she turned over to her brothers so she could concentrate on other ventures. Raquel invested in real estate, forming the Southgate Subdivision to develop affordable housing in South Laredo, and also invested in oil and gas wells in South Texas. In 1980, Raquel began serving as a trustee on the Trustee Board of the Laredo Community College, and has honorably worked to promote the value of education in empowering the lives of young people in Laredo, Texas. Her dedication and hard work helped the Laredo Community College become one of the most acclaimed community colleges in the nation. Ms. Gonzalez has also received many acclaims from the business community in Laredo for her successful entrepreneurship and civic involvement. She was the first female director of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce in 1983, served as the Director of the Falcon National Bank, and was recognized by the Republican National Hispanic Assembly for exceptional service to the community. She also received the Congressional Certificate of Merit in 1992, and was named the Small Business Person of the Year and inducted into the Laredo Women's Hall of Fame in 1995. Ms. Gonzalez remains an active member of the Financial Women International, Rotary Under Seven Flags, the Texas Land Title Association, and the Women's City Club. Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the dedication of Ms. Raquel Gonzalez to the small business community in Laredo, Texas, and her contributions to higher education as a member of the Board of Trustees at Laredo Community College.

Mr. CUELLAR

Mr. CUELLAR. I thank the chairman from Minnesota; the chairwoman, Ms. Brown; of course, our ranking members, Mr. Mica and Mr. Shuster, for the leadership that they provided in moving this bill from committee and bringing it down to the floor. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. I also would like to thank Chairman Oberstar for including in the manager's amendment a proposed amendment both Ruben Hinojosa and myself have, and I thank them. The proposed amendment that is part of the manager's amendment would charge the Department of Transportation with studying the feasibility of extending the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor from San Antonio into south Texas. South Texas is home to a large population that is a great distance removed from the City of San Antonio. Laredo, my hometown as an example, has been identified as the fastest growing city in the State of Texas, the second fastest growing city in the United States. South of San Antonio we have four counties in the Rio Grande Valley that boasts a population that's larger than nine States. The State Data Center projects that the population of the greater Laredo and greater McAllen areas will more than double in the next 2 decades. With the high price of gas and the large geographic distance that separates many of the towns in south Texas, the presence of high-speed rail will make a significant impact on the mobility of south Texans. The presence of high-speed rail in this rapidly expanding region will provide south Texas with greater access and mobility, and I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation to explore those options. Again, I want to thank you. I applaud the efforts of Chairman Oberstar and his leadership and the ranking members for their leadership. I thank the Chairman from Minnesota and I thank the Gentleman and Ranking Member Mica for the leadership in moving this bill through committee and bringing it to the floor. Ms. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. This legislation will bring much needed relief and reform to our rail systems by increasing capital and operating grants to Amtrak, developing State Passenger Corridor, and working to Reduce Amtrak's debt. I would also like to thank the Chairman for including in the manager's amendment the proposed amendment submitted by me. South Texas is home to a large population that is a great distance removed from the city of San Antonio. The City of Laredo, the closest major metropolitan area south of San Antonio, is 150 miles away from San Antonio. Laredo has been identified as the fastest growing city in Texas, and the second fastest growing city in the United States. The City of Laredo is home to the largest inland port in the nation through which 40 percent of goods trucked into the U.S. are inspected and allowed to pass. The State of Data Center projects that the population in the greater Laredo area will double in the next couple of decades. For these reasons, it is my intent that the Secretary consider a south Texas Connection such as the City of Laredo as the location for a potential new connection to the south Central High Speed Rail Corridor. With the high price of gas and the large geographic distance that separates many towns in South Texas, the presence of high speed rail will make a significant impact on my constituents. My proposed amendment would charge the Department of Transportation with studying the feasibility of extending the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor to serve the burgeoning population south of San Antonio. I believe that the presence of high-speed rail in the rapidly expending area in South Texas will provide my constituents with a new way to travel, and I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation to explore these options.