Michael Cloud

Mr. CLOUD

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLOUD

Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, this last week, I once again got the opportunity to visit the Texas-Mexico border for an updated look at the situation, and I can confirm that this is certainly not a manufactured crisis. Our border resources are completely overwhelmed. For those of us from Texas, we have understood the situation for quite some time, and what we saw was an overworked, vastly underfunded Border Patrol trying to deal with an overwhelming flood of migrants and dangerous criminal cartels. Cartels smuggler fees for illicit activity in the Rio Grande Valley Sector are estimated to be about $80 million each week. Our Border Patrol's budget in that sector is around $30 million per year. There is no way for our good men and women in the border services to compete with this kind of mismatch. The situation is unsustainable. The phrase we heard repeatedly from Border Patrol agents is: ``There is no end in sight.'' And, indeed, the numbers that we expect to be released soon will probably show over 130,000 migrants have crossed just in May. What is already a crisis will only get worse unless we act. This is, indeed, a very real crisis, a humanitarian crisis, a criminal crisis, and a national security crisis. This needs our attention now.

Mr. CLOUD

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize John LaRue, a resident of Corpus Christi, for his commitment to his community and to the Port of Corpus Christi. Originally from Reading, Pennsylvania, John LaRue spent the first half of his career assisting the City of Philadelphia and its Port Authority. In 1994, Mr. LaRue relocated to Corpus Christi to became the Executive Director of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority. His responsibilities included organizing, planning, and administering the Port Authority's activities. Thanks to Mr. LaRue's 25 years of leadership, the Port of Corpus Christi transformed from a Regional Port Authority to the ``Energy Port of the Americas'' and the fourth-largest port in the United States. The Port is a key contributor to America's global energy dominance and is continuing to expand. Mr. LaRue's widespread expertise on port policy is lauded both domestically and internationally. In addition to providing leadership and guidance for the POCCA, Mr. LaRue also serves on multiple advisory boards and panels. He is Chairman of the State of Texas Department of Transportation Port Advisory Committee and serves as a member of the Port Industries of Corpus Christi, as well as on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Port Authorities. On the occasion of his upcoming retirement, I would like to extend to John LaRue my thanks and appreciation for his valuable work at the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, and on the next exciting chapter of his life

Mr. CLOUD

Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, if this unanimous consent cannot be entertained, I urge the Speaker and the majority leader to immediately schedule the Born-Alive bill.

Mr. CLOUD

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I am rising also to join my coworkers in advocating for fiscal responsibility as Congress seeks to craft a budget. The RSC budget is bold, and I am pleased to see it include such proposals as requiring the Congressional Budget Office to account for debt servicing in the cost estimates they prepare for Congress. My bill, H.R. 638, the Cost Estimates Improvement Act, would do that very thing. Before legislation passes either the House or the Senate, lawmakers should know how much it will actually cost. This would seem to go without saying, but lawmakers consistently overlook one key cost, the new interest payments their spending will create. Folks back home understand how important this is, that we should be honest about the true cost of spending. If you were budgeting for monthly car payments and only considered the list price of the car itself and didn't factor in the extra cost of interest payments, you would later discover that the total cost is more than you could afford. Unfortunately, this is exactly what Congress does when considering new spending. Congress relies on the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to estimate the cost of legislation. But Congress does not require either of them to include the cost of servicing the additional debt that is created by authorizing or reauthorizing spending. This results in an incomplete picture of the total actual cost. Servicing national debt is becoming a substantial part of Federal spending. Within just a few years, our Nation will be spending more on interest payments than on the entire Department of Defense. This should alarm all of us, as this will increasingly crowd out other spending priorities. I introduced H.R. 638, the Cost Estimates Improvement Act, to address these problems by requiring the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to add the cost of servicing the debt to the cost estimates of any future legislation. In essence, Congress is not considering the comprehensive budgetary impact of spending and tax proposals. This distorts congressional decisionmaking in favor of more spending and debt accumulation. Congress routinely ignores the true costs and overstates the benefits of new spending. The American people have to account for the cost of debt in their family budgets, and providing Congress with accurate cost estimates that include the cost of debt servicing is a commonsense reform that would hold Congress to the same standard, forcing lawmakers to reckon with the actual cost of raising our national debt.

Mr. CLOUD

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Hubert Paul Adams, a World War II veteran who friends and family will miss dearly. Mr. Adams was born on April 26, 1921, in Robstown, Texas. When World War II began, he proudly defended our nation in the U.S. Army. When he returned home, he began his career at Questor Drilling. People in the community knew Mr. Adams for his dedication to his profession, and after 42 years, he ended his career having attained the position of Drilling Superintendent. Mr. Adams leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Ruth, along with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His loved ones will remember him for his sense of humor and his Texas pride as a Dallas Cowboys fan. During this time of mourning, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to her and the rest of their loved ones.

Mr. CLOUD

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Claudia Jackson, a Corpus Christi native, for her commitment to serving Del Mar College and promoting education in the community. Claudia Jackson started her career at Del Mar College nearly 42 years ago, and in 1977, became the Director of Public Information. By 2013, thanks to her work ethic and perseverance, she rose to become Executive Director of Strategic Communication and Government Relations. During her tenure, the College Relations Office staff received roughly 100 marketing and advertising awards, including a Gold Medallion of Excellence from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. Ms. Jackson's leadership was felt throughout Del Mar College, as she served as a member of the President's Executive Team and was responsible for interacting with local, state, and national elected officials to discuss and promote the college's various needs and initiatives. Additionally, she represented the College on the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Mayor's Interagency Group. Time and again, Claudia Jackson demonstrated her passion for education, and commitment to the city of Corpus Christi. Ms. Jackson was named Corpus Christi YWCA Woman of the Year in Communications in 1993. She received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV in 1997. Claudia Jackson represents the very best of the 27th District of Texas, and I would like to extend to her my thanks and appreciation for her excellent service and devotion to education.

Mr. CLOUD

Mr. CLOUD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Joe Braman, a Refugio rancher who is recognized internationally for his commitment to protecting endangered animals from poachers, as well as aiding law enforcement officers in protecting our border. Thanks to meticulous training, Mr. Braman's free-running pack dogs assisted with protecting South Africa's endangered black and white rhinos, ultimately leading to the arrest of 27 poachers and also beginning the recovery of the species. His dogs can track human scent several hours old and take down hunters more than 20 miles away. They have proved immensely valuable in Texas as well. They have assisted local law enforcement in manhunts and border security. Their 98 percent success rate with locating and capturing targets demonstrates their potential usefulness in future border security efforts. Joe Braman's unique and incredible ability to train dogs has made a positive difference, not just in Texas, but around the world, and I would like to extend to him our district's appreciation for his excellent work and devotion to justice.