Blake Farenthold

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and I would like to highlight a great organization that is fighting to end this modern day slavery. The New Life Refuge Ministries is working to bring an end to the domestic sex trafficking of children. In 2015, in my hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, we had 29 cases of child sex trafficking. The youngest victim was only 8 years old. Founder and executive director Minta Moore has been working since 2010 to build a home for survivors so that they will have a safe place to heal and a safe place from which to transition back to a healthy lifestyle. This all-volunteer organization has cleared land, has laid a road, has poured a foundation, and is now in the construction phase of opening its first cottage. It is its hope to open its doors this May. I applaud this organization and others like it that fight to eradicate human trafficking and that work to protect innocent children who have been victimized. School Choice

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, as the father of two daughters, I understand the importance of giving a high-quality education to our children. That is why I am here today to bring awareness to National School Choice Week. School choice is a straightforward concept in that parents should have the choice about where to send their children to school and about picking the best educational environment for their children. This includes many options: traditional public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, homeschooling, and more. By choosing the appropriate educational options for their children, parents enable them to succeed. Nationwide, approximately 2.6 million students are currently enrolled in more than 3,200 public magnet schools; more than 3 million are enrolled in charter schools; and 2.3 million are homeschooled. According to the National School Choice Week's organizers, 70 percent of Americans support school choice, and those numbers are even higher among growing demographic groups. Some would say that school choice hurts public schools. I beg to differ. Studies have shown that student outcome in public schools actually improves with the more choices there are. I believe in competition in education and in giving control back to parents, teachers, and locally elected officials so that these groups can pursue initiatives that best help our children. Congratulating President Trump

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate President Donald Trump on his inauguration last week. I look forward to working with him to accomplish many of our shared goals. One of the first goals we must accomplish is the repeal and replacement of ObamaCare, which has been hurting people nationwide with its increasingly high premiums and deductibles. I am confident we will have a better system in place that will provide great health care to all Americans. I also look forward to working with the President to improve our Nation's infrastructure, including ports like the Port of Corpus Christi and the Port of Victoria. By widening and deepening our Nation's ports and waterways, we will allow the United States not only to remain competitive, but to increase our exports to other nations, which will create jobs and make America great again. Another goal President Trump and I share is increasing border security and stemming the surge of illegal immigrants through our Southern border. As a Texan, every day I see the disastrous impact that illegal drugs, human trafficking, and other illicit activities have on our children, border communities, and the Nation as a whole. Together, we can work to secure our borders and make America safer. Finally, regulatory review and tax reform will put people in good- paying jobs. The next few weeks are going to be busy for those of us here in Washington, D.C., but that is why people like me decided to come here-- to make a difference, to help people, and to restore American exceptionalism.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on a lighter note, I'd like to congratulate Coach Jason Herring and the Refugio Bobcats football team for winning their fourth state championship. The Bobcats had a 15-1 record this school year and defeated Crawford in the championship game 23-20 in an impressive game-winning 18-yard field goal by kicker Diego Gonzales with only eight seconds remaining. Quarterback Jacobe Avery was Championship Game offensive MVP and Linebacker Kobie Herring was named defensive MVP. This was an impressive year for the whole team. Winning is a Refugio tradition. The Bobcats have won the state championship in 1970, 1982, 2011 and have been in the state championship three out of the past four years and now in 2016 the Bobcats are once again state champions. Way to go Refugio. Members of the 2016 Refugio Bobcat Championship Team: Donavon Bailey, Dhaireus Nobbie, Jaylon Mascorro, Jeffrey Owens, Robert Ortiz, Juan Martinez, Trent Ross, Devon Tilley, Chris Moya, Jackson Carroll, Ysidro Mascorro, Tayvin Castellano, D'Mond LaFond, Jeremy Borjas, Casey Henderson, Kobie Herring, Armonie Brown, Jacobe Avery, Trey Upton, Prentiss Jones, Trace Mascorro, Kevin Plascencia, Gayton Wills, Austin Moya, Daniel Valdez, Trevor Ross, Oswaldo Martinez, Jared Kelley, Ivan Tagle, Russell Jaso, Matthew Castillo, Diego Gonzales, Chris Vela, Kaleb Henning, Cipi Solis, Jamel LaFond, Oscar Lerma, Michael Moore, Joseph Montemayor, Johnathan Havens, Thomas Keyes, Alex Rodriguez, Arthur Morales, Anthony Delgado, Alfredo Villarreal, Jonathan Flores, Robert Montalvo, Ruben Gallegos, Jake Tinsman, Jacob Thompson, Thomas Marsh, Tyler Repka, Kaleb Wright, Dareon Wills, Jarren Gonzales, Corbin Brown, Colten Hesseltine, Devin Flores, Sylvester Henderson, Fernando Cordero, Mikey Firova, Jordy Martinez, Daniel Bailey, Jaden Hubbard, Dillon Bailey, Eric Garcia, Daniel Quesada, Daryon Ramirez. Head Coach: Jason Herring. Assistant Coaches: Drew Cox, Eli Boxell, Anthony Quintanilla, Darren Hunkapillar, Cameron Cox, Kent Hawthorne, Joe Bob Ratliff, Jarod Kay.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, for the past several days, this morning during our morning-hour debate, I have been listening to my colleagues across the aisle talking about the dire consequences the repeal of ObamaCare will have. Well, I have got to tell you something. It is already having dire consequences. The law itself is having dire consequences. Americans like my constituent Dotty Legg from Victoria, Texas, wrote to my office with a desperate plea to get relief from the effects of ObamaCare. In 2012, Dotty's coverage was around $400 a month with a $2,500 deductible. In 2014, it went up to almost $600. In 2015, $700 a month, and that is coverage for just one person. Well, in 2016, Dotty's carrier told her they could no longer cover her, so she had to go somewhere else. She went to another carrier and they only had an option that was almost $700 a month, and her deductible skyrocketed to $6,500. That is pretty unaffordable for something called the Affordable Care Act. I have got to tell you, back before ObamaCare, back before the Affordable Care Act, a policy with a $6,500 deductible would have been one of the least expensive policies you could have bought. It would have been a catastrophic policy. We have got to fix this. It gets even worse. We don't see what goes on in 2017. The company is pulling out. Dotty can't find coverage at all. The Affordable Care Act is not affordable, and it is full of broken promises. Most of the promises made were broken with Dotty. If you like your doctor, you can keep them. She hasn't been able to keep her doctor. Prices are going to go down? Come on. If you like your policy, you are going to keep it. Didn't happen. We have got to fix this, and Republicans have a plan. We are going to work the plan. It is at better.gop. It is one of those new top-level domains, better.gop. We have got to fix it because ObamaCare is nothing but, as we say on the Internet, a big old #fail. Second Amendment Rights for Military Spouses

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to talk about our military spouses. We often overlook the tremendous sacrifice our military spouses make to support their husbands and wives. They often move far from home and family to be with their spouse on military orders, but they give up their friends, the comfort of home, and even some of their Second Amendment rights. The Gun Control Act of 1968 limits citizens' rights to purchase a handgun by requiring that it only be bought in the State where they are considered residents. Exceptions were made for Active-Duty military members but not their spouses; and that is why I have introduced H.R. 256, the Protect Our Military Families' Second Amendment Rights Act, which allows spouses of Active-Duty servicemembers to purchase firearms in the State where they live under their spouse's military orders. Military spouses should not be denied their Second Amendment rights because they choose to live with their husband or wife while they are deployed. Spouses have the right to defend themselves and their families, just like everyone else. While I believe we must continue to push for things like constitutional carry, H.R. 256 is a good step in ensuring Second Amendment rights are respected. Congratulating Coach Jason Herring and the Refugio Bobcats

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on a lighter note, I would also like to congratulate Coach Jason Herring and the Refugio Bobcats football team for winning their fourth Texas State AA championship. The Bobcats had a 15-1 record this school year and defeated Crawford in the championship game 23-20 in an impressive game-winning 15-yard field goal by kicker Diego Gonzalez with only 8 seconds remaining. Quarterback Jacobe Avery was the championship game's offensive MVP, and linebacker Kobie Herring was named defensive MVP. This was an impressive year for the whole team. Winning is a Bobcat tradition. Congratulations, Refugio Bobcats.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, this year, Texas has the great honor of hosting the Super Bowl. In just a couple of weeks, Houston will host the largest event of the year in the United States with approximately 100,000 people expected to attend and more than 100 million expected to tune in on television. The Department of Homeland Security calls the Super Bowl the most attractive target for those who want to commit harm. Thanks to partnerships between local, state, and Federal officials, K9s will be deployed for bomb detections, officers on the lookout for suspicious activity, and air security will be ramped up, to name just a few of the precautions. Law enforcement is doing a great job of reminding everyone who plans to attend: if you see something, say something. Since it is January and it is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, I want to remind everyone that ``see something, say something'' doesn't just apply to unattended backpacks. During a recent meeting on Capitol Hill, DHS reminded all of us that events such as the Super Bowl bring the good, the bad, and the ugly. While a majority of the attendees are coming to have a good time and with good intentions, the few who do not can disrupt and ruin many lives. So I ask those who attend to help us in keeping Texas one of the safest and best States in the country by reporting anything to law enforcement they may believe to be suspicious and allow trained officers to investigate. This includes suspected human trafficking. According to the Polaris Project, warning signs of someone being a victim of human trafficking include not being allowed to leave or come and go as they wish; appearing malnourished; not being in control of his or her own identification documents; not being allowed to speak for themselves; and showing signs of physical abuse, torture, or physical restraint. While law enforcement will be ramping up efforts to reach out to victims and give them the resources they need to get help, it lies on each and every one of us to be aware of our surroundings and help when someone is in trouble or something is not right. It is important to remember that human trafficking doesn't just happen during large sporting events. It happens every day, often going unseen. While events like the Super Bowl help bring it to our attention, it is important to remember that, when the event is over, men and women, boys and girls are still being victimized each and every day. UNICEF has estimated there were 1.5 million victims of human trafficking in the United States alone in 2014, and that number soars to 27 million worldwide. This is a problem that is going to continue to need our attention 365 days a year. We have got to work together to end this form of human slavery. ObamaCare Repeal and Replace Mr. FARENTHOLD: Mr. Speaker, I spend most of my time, when Congress is not in session, back home in Texas. I hear over and over again from constituents: ObamaCare is not working for me. Premiums are too expensive and deductibles are too high. That is just not a problem in Texas. ObamaCare is failing nationwide. It is now the unaffordable, no-care act. That is why I support repealing and replacing it. The House will set up the framework to do just that with the budget bill we expect to pass this week. It sets up budget reconciliation that will be the vessel for beginning to fix this failing law. I am looking forward to a healthcare system that allows individual consumers more choice in the plan that they pick, a healthcare system that will return choice to the American consumer while ensuring that people can't be turned away or lose coverage due to age, medical condition, or circumstances. I also look forward to a healthcare system that protects Medicare for senior citizens while ensuring Medicare is financially solvent and will be there for future generations. I also look forward to a healthcare system that is free of burdensome bureaucracy and a tax system that hampers the development of new medical devices and therapies, discourages savings, and penalizes employers and the American people if they don't do Uncle Sam's bidding. I have heard from restauranteurs in my area. In Port Aransas, I ran into a guy at the airport. He said: I want to expand my restaurant, but it will put me over the limit for employees and put me under ObamaCare. I just can't afford it. So he chose not to expand. He wasn't able to hire more people, give people jobs. Another restaurateur in Corpus Christi said: You know, I am over the limit now, but I am only hiring part-time people. I can't afford the coverage, and I can't afford to raise prices because the market just won't bear more expensive meals. This means that people who could have gotten full benefits under a different plan are having to suffer with no benefits and work two part- time jobs rather than a full-time job. It is time we repeal and replace ObamaCare and replace it with a healthcare plan that meets people's needs, not Washington, D.C.'s needs. You can read more about the House plan at Better.GOP.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Section 9: ``The migration or importation of such persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person.''

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Chairman, our Founding Fathers intended for us to have a limited government. If they saw what we have today, they would be appalled. Our government has gotten huge. It is out of control, and an alphabet soup of government agencies and unelected bureaucrats are writing the laws. They call them regulations, but they have the effect of laws. I am going to disagree with my friend and colleague from Tennessee, any power these agencies have to write regulations was delegated to Congress. We are pulling some of that power back, back to Congress, back to people elected by the people; in fact, to where the Founding Fathers put it in Article I of the Constitution. That is why I am here today, to support the REINS Act. It says that if an agency enacts a regulation that has an economic impact of more than $100 million, that has to come back before Congress for a positive vote before it takes effect. Now, quite frankly, because the Constitution vests all of the legislative power in Congress, I think every single regulation that one of these agencies does should have to come back before Congress, but the REINS Act is a great start. Throughout President Obama's administration, a flood of regulations has put extreme pressure and burdens on American job creators and American families. Take, for example, the EPA's waters of the U.S. rule. It is a power grab by the EPA attempting to regulate any body of water on a private land basically that is any bigger than a bathtub. It goes way beyond what the Clean Water Act says they can do. Using its new interpretation of WOTUS, the EPA has full authority to bully land-owning American citizens like Wyoming rancher Andy Johnson who got a permit from the State and local government to build a stock pond so his cattle could have something to drink. Well, guess what, the EPA said, nope. They came in after the fact and said: if you don't take that out, we are going to hit you with $37,500 a day in fines. Finally, after drawn-out litigation, the EPA was slapped back and Johnson's $16 million in fines was erased. This is just one of the many examples of the huge power grab these Federal agencies are doing. We need people who are elected and answerable to the American people writing the laws, not unelected bureaucrats. That is why we need the REINS Act, and that is why we need to restore the constitutional power granted to this body in Article I. The REINS Act is a great start, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to support the WIIN Act. We have heard from both sides. It is a bipartisan bill. Nobody likes everything in it, which is typical of legislation in Washington, but it is absolutely critical to this country--to jobs and our economy. In fact, in the district I represent, there are over 76,000 jobs associated with ports and waterways in the area. I would venture to say, however, 100 percent of the population is touched in the products that they buy, in the goods that they produce, and in the raw materials that are shipped. This is a good bill that cuts redtape and gets our port projects going. It is what we need for our economy and it is what we need for America. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life and memory of Mr. Jimmie Martinez of Lumberton, Texas, who passed away earlier this month at the age of fifty-four. A former classmate of mine at Incarnate Word Academy, Jimmie committed himself to public service after graduation, joining the Nueces County Emergency Service District in Flour Bluff as a firefighter and EMT. He also served the Annaville Emergency Service District and Lumberton Fire and EMS as Assistant Fire Marshal and as a firefighter and EMT. Jimmie served as the president of the twenty-one-county East Texas Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association, received the firefighter of the year award, the medal of valor and more. Most importantly, Jimmie was a friend to all--always willing to go out of his way to help those in need. He often volunteered on the weekends at his old firehouse in Flour Bluff to give them an extra hand. Jimmie was a great man and a dedicated public servant, and I say on behalf of the entire Coastal Bend community, thank you Jimmie. You will be missed.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on Veterans Day, I attended Port Aransas High School Veterans Day ceremony honoring Port Aransas veterans. This year's event was renamed to remember its founder, Dr. Bill Lehmann, who passed away earlier this year at 91. During World War II, Dr. Lehmann served in the Army stateside, selling war bonds and working at a POW camp. After the war, he earned his master's degree and Ph.D. in physics, and began a 30-year career in the Air Force Civil Service. He rose quickly in the ranks, becoming director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and, later, chief of the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, the first civilian to hold this job. Lehmann focused his energy on community service when he retired in Port Aransas in 1992. He was an active member of the Port Aransas Rotary Club, where he was honored as Rotarian of the Year in 2013. He also founded the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the school in the early nineties, growing it from a small event to a gymnasium full of people packed with hundreds of veterans, students, and community members. Dr. Lehmann created a fantastic legacy that will impact the Port Aransas community for years to come. To Dr. Lehmann and his family, and to all veterans, thank you for your service, and God bless you all.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

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

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Chairman, the Office of Management and Budget has imposed the need for a new start or a new investment determination for projects that have been previously fully authorized and have actually begun work despite a lack of written policy or standards. Many of these critical projects, like one in the district I represent, the Port of Corpus Christi Channel Improvement Project, which was fully authorized in WRDA 2007 and reauthorized in WRRDA 2014, have been halted even though parts of the project have been completed. The purpose of my amendment simply states that separate elements of a previously authorized project do not constitute a new start but are, in fact, a continuation and ongoing work. The new start determination and advancing separable elements of the entire project slows things down as we have to get a new start finding on every element. Slowing it down deprives the communities of much-needed improvements and actually raises the entire cost of the project. This amendment considers separable elements to be continuations of the fully authorized project. The approach taken by the OMB, with respect to considering separable elements as a new start, is counterproductive to the work we have been doing on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in streamlining the review process, improving project delivery efforts, facilitating accelerated funding of projects, and reestablishing the Nation's trade and economic prowess with major port infrastructure projects like the Port of Corpus Christi. Mr. Chairman, I urge members to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. There are a lot of good things in it for the Nation. As a former computer technician, I know there is nothing worse than a single point of failure in the network. GPS is a single point of failure for a lot of things; eLORAN is absolutely must-have. We can talk about what is not in the bill as well, but I do want to talk about a section that is specifically important to the district I represent. Section 202 grants the authority for the Coast Guard to reimburse non-Federal entities for the cost of construction to certain aids to navigation. This authority ensures these types of safety-related navigation projects can move forward in a timely fashion. We are all too aware of how slow the government can be, especially when it comes to funding projects, so we have come up with a way here where we can work with non-Federal partners to improve the safety of our navigation system. It doesn't cost the government anything. The non-Federal partners go ahead and put in the equipment up to Coast Guard standards with Coast Guard approval and get it done now; and then, when the Coast Guard gets the money, when the red tape and government machine moves through its procedure, they can get reimbursed, while our mariners can enjoin the enhanced safety and our ports can enjoy the enhanced economic activity as a result of being able to, for instance, traverse channels in low-light conditions. It is safety. It is good for the economy. In fact, one of the problems that brought this to my attention was when there was a project in Corpus Christi, the La Quinta Channel. Somehow, the aids to navigation never got built, even though this channel has been dredged and is in use. The pilots say it is unsafe to use in low-light conditions, and it looks like it could be years before the Coast Guard gets around to funding it. Well, the Port of Corpus Christi is willing to pony up the money today. The Coast Guard says: All right; when we get it, we will give it back. This piece of legislation allows that to happen. It is good government, along with lots of other pieces of this legislation, something we need to pass, and I urge my colleagues to git-r-done.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, Monday, October 10 is Taiwan's National Day--also known as Double Ten Day. On the eve of this special occasion, I would like to offer my early wishes to the people and government of Taiwan. Taiwan is a very close trade partner and security ally of the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region. Formosa Plastics Corporation, a Taiwanese company invested in the congressional district I represent and create lots of job opportunities to my constituency. It sets a good example of Taiwan-U.S. economic relationship. Last June, Eva Air, one of the biggest Taiwanese airline companies launched the direct flight route between Dallas, Texas and Taipei, Taiwan. The direct flight further facilitates the passenger and cargo movement between the two nations. I am glad to see closer trade ties between Taiwan and the U.S. and I realize that Taiwan should be included in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which works to secure the civil aviation throughout the world. The ICAO's 39th Triennial Assembly will be soon taking place shortly in Montreal, beginning on September 27. We hope that Taiwan will be invited to attend the Assembly as three years ago. Again, I wish the people of Taiwan a Happy Double Ten Day, and I look forward to working closely with Taiwanese people to further enhance our bilateral relations.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members of the Corpus Christi Elks Lodge for reestablishing Elks in my hometown. Due to some tough times after Hurricane Katrina and declining membership, the local chapter was consolidated with a chapter in Kingsville. But thanks to the dedication of the members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, the Corpus Christi chapter will, once again, resume activities on October 27. For more than 140 years, Elks Lodges have brought much to their communities, including awarding millions of dollars in scholarships, aiding veterans, building golf courses and pools, supporting Scouting Troops, providing education to prevent drug abuse, and helping low- income students attend summer camp. It is my belief that having the order return to Corpus Christi will be a huge blessing to our community, and I join my friends and neighbors in thanking them for their dedication and service, and telling the Elks: welcome back to Corpus Christi, Texas.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, our taxes in this country are too high and too complicated. We need a fairer, flatter, simpler tax system, but there is a lot of work to be done on that. I know my friend, the gentleman from Illinois in the Ways and Means Committee, and Chairman Brady from Texas are all working on that. But we do have a situation where many of our Olympic athletes work hard for years-- some of whom are living at or below poverty--and when they bring home the gold, silver, or bronze to our country, they are tagged by the IRS with very high taxes. This bill is a small step and a small way that we can say thank you for the hard work those athletes put in to make us all proud as Americans. I do think the bill does great service to our athletes, but it should also serve as a reminder that we need to be looking at the bigger tax system in this country as a whole. As my colleague on the other side of the aisle said, there are a many great people doing many great things in this country who suffer a very, very high tax burden. I pledge to work with my friends and colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee toward that end, but I am happy we are making this small step forward--something I have been fighting for for several years. I thank the committee for their hard work on it, and I look forward to joining, hopefully, all of my colleagues in voting ``yes'' for this.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, Monday, October 10 is Taiwan's National Day--also known as Double Ten Day. Since this body will not be in session that day, I would like to offer my early best wishes to the people of Taiwan. Taiwan is a close trade partner and ally of the US in the Asia- Pacific region. A fine example of the trade relationship between Taiwan and the U.S. is Formosa Plastics Corporation, a Taiwanese company heavily invested in the district I represent. They are a major employer in the region and are actively involved in the community. Last year, Eva Air, one of the biggest Taiwanese airlines, launched the direct flight route between Houston, Texas and Taipei, Taiwan, and will soon be offering direct flights between Dallas/Ft. Worth and Taipei. These flights shore up the business and cultural ties between Taiwan, Texas and the entire U.S. I am glad to see closer trade ties between Taiwan and the US. It is my belief Taiwan should be included in the International Civil Aviation Organization (I-C-A-O), which works to secure the civil aviation throughout the world. The ICAO's 39th Triennial Assembly will meet in Montreal on September 27. I hope that Taiwan will be invited to attend the Assembly as it was three years ago. Again, I wish the people of Taiwan a Happy Double Ten Day, and I look forward to working closely with Taiwanese people to further enhance our bilateral relations.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on September 17, 1787, the United States Constitution was signed by 39 inspired men who changed the course of history. As a nation, we celebrate Constitution Week from September 17 to September 23 this year to remember the legacy and freedoms we all enjoy. The signing of the Constitution 229 years ago created a Republic that has withstood the test of time and that has proven that it was destined for greatness. To this day, the United States Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to establish justice, to ensure domestic tranquility, to provide for the common defense, to promote the general welfare, and to secure the blessings of liberty. The Constitution has withstood the test of the Civil War, the Great Depression, and many other challenges. We are blessed to live in a nation where we can all pursue happiness and safety and freedom, and I ask my colleagues to join me and the Daughters of the American Revolution in celebrating the Constitution and what it has done for each and every American during Constitution Week.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Fallen Heroes Memorial in Nueces County, Texas. After first being proposed in 2011, the Nueces County Fallen Heroes Memorial will be open in early August. This memorial honors local emergency responders who have sacrificed their lives for our community going back to 1860. Instead of fading into history, these men and women will be remembered each time someone visits the memorial. The project has been a community-driven effort since its inception. I would like to commend Nueces County Commissioner Mike Pusley, who has been the leader on this effort from the very beginning. It was Mike who noticed a defunct and over-budget water fountain in front of the County Courthouse and decided to take action. The Nueces County Fallen Heroes Memorial is possible because of Pusley's leadership, leadership everyone in the public sector should aspire to. Pusley is an example for others in public service, men and women who go above and beyond their duties to imagine and create solutions to problems in the community. While it was Pusley's vision that got the ball rolling on this, it was the financial support of the Durrill family and others in the community that helped make this a reality. Along with the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, the Durrills have provided a majority of the funding for the project. This family is a prime example of what community-driven efforts can accomplish. I wish to express how deeply grateful we are to those first responders who have given their lives in service of their country and our community. Here are just a few of the first responders this memorial honors: Lieutenant Stuart J. Alexander. In 2009, Lieutenant Alexander was intentionally struck and killed by a suspect fleeing police. Officer Matthew B. Thebeau. In 2008, Officer Thebeau was killed in an automobile accident while responding to an assault-in-progress call. And Sergeant Juan Rincon Prieto, who, in 1963, was struck and killed by a truck while directing traffic. The Nueces County Fallen Heroes Memorial remembers these and 28 other first responders who have fallen in service to Nueces County over the years, all leaving behind friends and loved ones, police officers, members of the Sheriff's Department, constables, firefighters, and other first responders. These are the men and women who put their lives on the line every day for our community. They keep the law. They keep the peace. And they keep us safe. The memorial will be opened at a celebration attended by members of the community, including State Representatives Todd Hunter and Able Herrero, Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal, and Mayor Nelda Martinez. I look forward to attending as well. I urge everyone to visit this memorial and remember those who have died in the line of duty. Congratulating Jim Lago for His Induction into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment today to congratulate my friend and mentor, Texas radio icon, Jim Lago, for his induction into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. Lago and I have been together on the radio now for more than 15 years. Lago is a 30-year radio veteran, and he got his start when the crew he was working on in the oil field pressured him to take a part-time DJ job in Longview, Texas. Over just 4 years, through determination and talent, he moved his way up to doing mornings in Beaumont and afternoons at KILT in Houston. He also spent some time in Oklahoma City, where he covered the Oklahoma City bombings after feeling the buildings rock from the nearby explosion. He was also live on the air in Corpus Christi when the 9/11 attacks occurred. In 1991, he was working at KEYS in Corpus Christi, where he got his start in talk radio. In 2005, he and I moved to 1360 KKTX to host his popular morning talk show, ``Lago in the Morning,'' where I am on almost every morning. Lago's success comes from his never-giving-up attitude. Jim isn't afraid to discuss tough topics. He isn't afraid to speak his mind and take full ownership of his beliefs. In his words, Jim is on the air to let people know that there are people with similar beliefs out there, and they shouldn't be afraid to speak up. It is clear Lago is doing just that and doing what he was born to do. I would like to congratulate my good friend, Jim; his wife, Pamela; and his family, on this well-deserved, in my opinion, long overdue induction into the Radio Hall of Fame in Texas.

Mr. FARENTHOLD

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

Mr. FARENTHOLD

Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a family of Texas pioneers who lived in Robstown, Texas, for 108 years. The first of the Mays family to settle in Robstown were Ella and Riley, along with their 12 children. They arrived in 1912 as the first African American family in the city. On August 7 of this year, they will be holding a family reunion at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown. Once Ella and Riley settled, they founded the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, which served as both a church and the first public African American school in the city. They were important members of the community. The city of Robstown even named a street after Riley, who served as the deacon and Sunday school teacher of Mt. Zion where Ella was a nurse and missionary. Their hard work and dedication to faith, family, and community is an inspiration to us all. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the Mays' wonderful legacy and lasting impact they have had on Robstown, the Coastal Bend, and beyond. May God bless you all.