Blake Farenthold

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Since the time President Obama took office in 2009, the price of gasoline has more than doubled, rising from $1.53 a gallon to $3.52. America has become more dependent on foreign oil, undermining our national security while forcing hardworking Americans to endure budget-busting gasoline prices. When you fill up your car, it's not the oil companies you should be blaming; it's the White House. Excessive government regulation, the fact that offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is all but shut down, and the attempt to end the tax incentives for oil exploration are all factors. The culture of ``no'' from the executive branch is killing us. Add to that the lack of any action in light of the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, Egypt, and Libya, in particular, and we have a failure of leadership at the top of this country. Energy is key to our economy. Scores of jobs rely on it. And $3.50 gasoline is unacceptable. I call on the President to act today. Call off the EPA. Issue those leases and permits in the gulf. Open America's land for drilling. And quit demonizing the oil and gas industry.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on February 23, the Justice Department announced it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of Marriage Act was a bipartisan effort to preserve the sanctity of marriage that, among other things, defined marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman. The Attorney General and President have independently determined that this is unconstitutional. Anyone who's taken a civics class or a government course will tell you that's not the President's or the Justice Department's job. It's the Supreme Court's job. This is an express violation of the separation of powers principle found in the Constitution, and it presents a dangerous precedent for future administrations to follow. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, whether marriage is a biblically sanctioned union between a man and a woman or otherwise, there could be no doubt that this power grab by the President and the Justice Department is not what our Founding Fathers intended when they created the checks and balances system of our Constitution. The Obama administration, if it disagrees with a law passed by Congress and signed by a previous President, it should use the legislative process to change that law--not usurp the power of another branch of government. This is not a gay rights issue. This is a separation of powers issue.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 148, 149, and 150, I missed the vote due to transportation delays. Flights out of Corpus Christi were delayed, causing me to miss my connect in Houston. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 86 I missed the vote due to a previously scheduled satellite interview in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 88, I missed the vote due to a previously scheduled satellite interview in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 87, I missed the vote due to a previously scheduled satellite interview in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 84, I missed the vote due to a previously scheduled satellite interview in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 85, I missed the vote due to a previously scheduled satellite interview in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 89, I missed the vote due to a previously scheduled satellite interview in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to express my deepest sorrow about the tragic attack on American law enforcement that happened earlier this week in Mexico. Tuesday afternoon, two agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement were attacked while driving between Mexico City and Monterrey. Today, I honor the sacrifice of Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata, who lost his life in service to our country. Special Agent Zapata, from Brownsville, Texas, joined ICE in 2006. His brother also serves with ICE. A second agent, Victor Avila, was injured in the attack and remains in stable condition. My thoughts and prayers are with both agents and their families. These two brave men took dangerous assignments, and Agent Zapata made the ultimate sacrifice. They were two of the hundreds of ICE personnel throughout the world, fighting the war on drugs--money laundering, smuggling, and human trafficking. I have been in contact with law enforcement, and they are working to ensure that the perpetrators of this horrible attack are brought to justice. I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Special Agent Zapata. He died for a just cause, and will be remembered as a man of courage and honor.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. ``To controversies to which the United States shall be a party, to controversies between two or more States, between a State and citizens of another State, between citizens of different States, between citizens of the same State claiming lands under grants of different States, and between a State or the citizens thereof and foreign States, citizens or subjects.''