Virgil Goode

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule. I was surprised and chagrined when I looked over the long list of 50 amendments and saw missing from that list the Troops on the Border amendment which had been made in order for the 10 past years. As you may recall, Troops on the Border would authorize our Armed Forces to combat illegal immigration, drug smugglers and potential terrorists. It would be optional for the troops to be used, but it would be a message to illegal aliens, those involved in the illegal drug trade, and those who would wreak harm on our country that we would use those troops where necessary to defend our borders. Let me tell you just a minute about the history of this amendment. Between 1997 and 2001, it was offered five times by a Democrat and adopted by this body. I have had the honor for the past 5 years to offer the amendment, and it was adopted by the body each of those 5 years. This bill would be much stronger and would send a message that we are serious about border security if this amendment had been made in order. I hope we will reject the rule for its failure to stand up for the integrity of our border.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, on April 16, 2007, the news from Virginia Tech and Blacksburg grew worse as the day progressed, and as evening fell the number of students and faculty killed reached 33. Included in that number was the apparent assassin, a fellow student who came to this country from South Korea at an early age. The death toll of 33 makes the tragedy at Virginia Tech one of the deadliest at educational institutions in the history of the United States. Words cannot express the sorrow and hurt that the families of the victims are experiencing. We cannot bring these mostly young men and women back to the classroom, to the sidewalks of Blacksburg or to their families and loved ones. But we can always remember and know that their spirit, energy and enthusiasm in making Virginia Tech one of the finest institutions of higher education in the world will never die and will live in our memories forever. At yesterday's convocation at Cassell Auditorium in the heart of the Virginia Tech campus, those gathered heard President Bush, heard the Governor of Virginia, heard ministers of various religions around the globe, and heard leaders of the Tech community. In a spontaneous happening towards the end of the program, one gentleman stood forth and led in the Lord's Prayer as it was prayed in unison by thousands of students, families, government leaders and others in the Virginia Tech community. May God bless the families of the deceased, the students at the institution, Virginia Tech, and our country in this time of sorrow.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I rise in opposition to the supplemental as it stands now. There are multiple reasons for opposing this measure. The first reason is that in my view we overly tie the hands of our Commander in Chief and those in the field who are leading our troops. We cannot have a situation where this body micromanages what our Armed Forces are doing. It is a bad precedent, and I hope that we do not set it with a vote on this tomorrow. A second reason for opposing this measure is some of the additional added spending. I fully support spending for our Armed Forces and for our veterans, and I am pleased with the work of the committee in plussing up funds for our troops and for our veterans for things that they need. But in some other areas, such as $25 million for spinach, which has been mentioned before, it may be needed but that should be done through the regular appropriations process. We have an appropriations subcommittee that deals with foreign aid. That subcommittee can deal with the issue of whether Liberia should get additional funding. We have added too much to this bill when you add almost $25 million to an emergency military supplemental.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Thank you, Mr. Bilbray. Mr. Speaker, I want to say thanks, first, to you, as the Chair of the Immigration Reform Caucus, and to your predecessor, Tom Tancredo of Colorado, for your relentless efforts to secure our Nation and make our country safer by enhancing border security and by reducing magnets that are attractions to illegals. One magnet has been discussed just by the previous speakers. Mrs. Blackburn of Tennessee and Mr. Poe of Texas have discussed the legislation that will, hopefully, block companies like Bank of America from issuing credit cards to illegal aliens. That is a magnet for them to come here and get an American credit card. There are many other magnets that attract millions to come across our borders to avoid the law and to enter this country illegally. Amnesty is a huge magnet. Amnesty means that if you get here and stay here a little while, we are going to let you stay. We are going to give you a blue card, a red card or a green card, and we are going to give you a glidepath to citizenship. Amnesty is probably the worst magnet of all. It is estimated that between 12 and 20 million persons are here illegally already. And they are placing a financial burden on the educational and social services of localities and states. Also, many illegals are criminals, and they are filling local jails, State prisons, and placing a burden on our law enforcement system. Even in a State like Virginia, which is not adjacent to our southern border, you can talk with local law enforcement officials and they can tell you about the number of persons that they believe to be illegal going through the criminal justice system is costing the taxpayers of the localities of the Fifth District and the citizens of the State of Virginia millions of dollars. I listened to the President's State of the Union message. I was happy when he said that we needed to have our borders more secure, but I was not happy, very much so, about his proposal that would grant amnesty to illegals. Paying a fine for breaking immigration laws of the United States and after a few years being given an opportunity to become a citizen is amnesty any way you slice it. And I don't care what others say about legalization or regularization, they are euphemisms for amnesty. Once the illegals become citizens, they have the right to petition to bring family members into the United States. And that is not just son, daughter, father, mother, it extends beyond that, it is called chain migration. If you give amnesty to 12 million illegals, that is going to be 60 million in less than half a decade. A huge burden on the United States. And it is a reward for those who broke the law. Giving a glidepath to citizenship in the mid-1980s was tried. It was an amnesty then. It failed. It didn't stop the flow, we had more. It served as a lure for more to come across our borders. And there is reason to believe that if we do it again, millions upon millions will follow suit because they will say in the 1980s, if we worked our way across, just walked across one night, maybe with a guide, maybe without a guide, and we stayed there a few years, they gave us amnesty. And you know what? In the nineties more just came across the border, that border that has very little fencing along it. They just came in, and they got them amnesty then. And they are counting on another one in this decade. If we want to stop a big magnet for illegal immigration, we will have a firm and signed policy of no amnesty, no matter how euphemistic you may make the words ``amnesty'' sound. And Mr. Bilbray is from San Diego. The fence between San Diego and Mexico is working. It is not a simple barbed-wire fence, it is not a simple woven-wire fence, it is a three-layer fence with two rows, and it is a stopper. I hear those on the other side and many in this body say, you know, we really don't need a fence, we can do some other things; a fence won't work. Let me tell you, the opponents of the fence don't like it because it will do the job. I don't think anyone yet has made it across the fence in San Diego by climbing the first fence, going across the road, climbing the huge barrier fence in the middle, going across the next road and then crossing the third fence. And very few, if any, tunnelists have been able to make it so far. So the magnet of amnesty is one that needs to be rejected. And if this body and the body on the other side on our executive branch were to come out four-square, forthrightly against amnesty in any shape or form, many of those illegally in the country now would walk back just like they walked in because they would know that there was no hope of getting that special colored card or getting citizenship. They would know that the only way you get to the United States is to play by the rules. You go back to your home country, and you don't jump in front of those that are going through the process, that are having background checks, that are having their criminal records evaluated so they wouldn't have any. Their health records and their health checks would be undertaken, interviews would be given, they would be playing by the rules. Another magnet that we must fix is the anchor baby. The United States, unlike most countries of the western world, provides for the children born of persons illegally in this country with citizenship. The mother and father can come here illegally, can be expecting and have a baby across the border in the United States, that baby is an automatic citizen. And if they go to one of the hospitals, and most likely because they are without assets, will be getting free treatment at the expense of the taxpaying citizens of the United States of America. Anchor babies are a huge magnet. If we want to stop the invasion of illegal aliens into this country, we must do away with the magnets. And we have talked about three of the magnets here tonight. If we want to make America sound financially, reduce the deficit, save money, make our country safer and make our borders secure, we need to say no amnesty, no credit card and no anchor babies. Let's do the right thing, let's save America.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to be here with Mr. King; I appreciate the time he has allotted to me. I want to thank him for his hard work in combating illegal immigration and the many problems that such brings to our country. I know today he had a forum over at the Woodrow Wilson Institute and had to slug it out with others who did not concur with his views. Judge Carter was here. I also want to thank him for his hard work on this issue, and for recognizing the need to secure our borders. First, I wish to commend the Mayor and Council of Hazelton, Pennsylvania for their courageous stand in defending the sanctity of Hazelton, the well-being of its citizens, and the integrity of the rule of law. The courage of this community should spur this Congress to be resolute in standing for the security of our Nation. By setting forth the city's determination to impose penalties of those who rent to illegal aliens and requiring employers to verify the legal work status of potential workers, the leadership of Hazelton is speaking for a majority of Americans who know and believe that strict measures must be employed if we are to secure jobs for workers who are here legally, if we are to preserve the traditional culture of our Nation, and if we are to be protected from criminal illegal aliens. Further, Hazelton's action to stipulate English as their official language is a step that this Congress should also take in order to prevent our Nation from becoming divided into splinter groups that hunker down in the assertion of their individuality rather than becoming a part of a great melting pot that Americans have cherished for over two centuries. Hazelton is now defending itself against the legal challenges of the ACLU and others. Hazelton should know that it is supported by millions of Americans who know that its cause is just. I would also like to mention, Madam Speaker, the movie ``Borders,'' which was showing in the Cannon Office Building last week. It is produced by Chris and Lisa Burgard. Lisa hails from Pittsylvania County, which is in the Fifth District of Virginia. We were honored to have in attendance Mr. and Mrs. Robert Duvall and Mr. Ron Maxwell, who starred and directed ``Gods and Generals.'' We also had some Members of Congress to witness this film. Hopefully this film will be showing in theaters across the country in the near future. It illustrates the need for a secure fence along our southern borders.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to receive time from someone who served our Nation in the finest way and who knows firsthand how hurtful a resolution such as this can be to those in theater. We are in the middle of a 4-day marathon here. While I cannot say that I agree with all of the actions of the President in dealing with Iraq, I will not be supporting H. Con. Res. 63. The eyes of the world are upon this House, and there will be commentary from the Middle East to the streets of small-town America about what we do here over this 4- day period, even though this resolution does not carry the weight of law. When the commentary begins in the Middle East, in no way do I want to comfort and encourage the radical Muslims who want to destroy our country and who want to wipe the so-called infidels like myself and many of you from the face of the Earth. In no way do I want to aid and assist the Islamic jihadists who want the green flag of the crescent and star to wave over the Capitol of the United States and over the White House of this country. I fear that radical Muslims who want to control the Middle East and ultimately the world would love to see ``In God We Trust'' stricken from our money and replaced with ``In Mohammed We Trust.'' I am not sure that reinforcing the existing troops by 20,000 will save us from the jihadists, and I am not sure it will prevent chaos in Iraq. I do hope that these additional forces will stabilize Baghdad and will lead to democracy and a tolerance of divergent views and religions in Iraq. Unfortunately, the history of that region does not bode well for such conclusions. In my view, the United States by removing Saddam Hussein has provided a great opportunity for Iraq to be a showcase for tolerance and understanding. Perhaps one day Iraq may want to adopt something like the first amendment of our country. That may only be an optimistic hope. I hope my fears and the fears of others about chaos and calamity prove false. If the Shiite and Sunni controversy escalates and the situation worsens, we could be faced with a clamor to admit thousands and perhaps millions into this country. I call on the President and our Secretary of State to not allow a mass immigration into this country with the dangers and pitfalls that it could bring to our safety and security. The terrorists would surely enter into this country in such a way as the 9/11 terrorists swam around in a sea of illegal immigration before we were struck on September 11. Let us vote ``no'' and let us forestall, if not prevent, calamity.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, on June 29, 2004, the United States Social Security Commissioner and the Director General of the Mexican Social Security Institute entered into a Social Security totalization agreement between Mexico and the United States. The U.S. has totalization agreements with 20 other countries. However, all of these, except Canada, are with countries a substantial distance away. As a result, they involve relatively few workers and have little or no impact on illegal immigration. Unfortunately, the Mexican totalization agreement will be a huge incentive for increased illegal immigration. Under this agreement, if there is amnesty and a glide path to citizenship, illegal aliens will be able to qualify their work in the United States for Social Security funds. This would result in a huge increase in Social Security costs for the United States at a time when we are wrestling with reforming that system. We need to stop the totalization agreement and preserve Social Security.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4846, which authorizes a grant for contributions toward the establishment of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Virginia. Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia on December 28, 1856. He later lived in Charlottesville, Virginia while studying law at the University of Virginia. When elected President of the United States in 1912, Wilson became the eighth person born in Virginia to ascend to the Presidency, more than any other state in the nation. As President, Wilson promoted numerous social and economic reforms including the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. H.R. 4846 authorizes a matching grant program to establish the Wilson Library at the President's birthplace in Staunton. I have had the pleasure of visiting the museum there on many occasions and my nephew, Brett, especially enjoyed seeing the fully restored Pierce-Arrow limousine that was used to transport President Wilson from New York to Washington upon his return from France in 1919 after negotiating the Treaty of Versailles. I commend the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Goodlatte, for this legislation and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4846.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I salute the gentleman from New York and his committee for their efforts on the fence bill. As stated previously, I agree that the fence is not the total solution. In fact, I would like to see more than 700 miles of fence along our southern border, but 700 miles of fence is a start. I would also like to see a firm no-amnesty policy ever for those illegally in the country. That is not part of this bill. But this bill is a substantial and correct step in the right direction. The invasion into this country is from south of the border primarily. That is why we need the fence along the southern border first, and we will study the situation along the northern border. Cost: $7 billion is a small fraction of the cost that illegal immigration imposes upon the taxpayers of the United States and the taxpayers of the various States of this country. It costs in excess of $70 billion per year. Let's take this very firm, very positive step and I urge everyone to support the King legislation.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. I thank the gentleman. I would like to restate some of the comments that we heard earlier today from the new Prime Minister of Iraq and make some of the points he said about how Iraq of today is different than what the Iraq of a few years ago was. He said, ``We have gone from a small one-party state ruled by a dictator and a small elite to a multi-party system where politics is the domain of every citizen and parties compete at all levels. What used to be a state-controlled media is now completely free and uncensored; something Iraq had never witnessed since its establishment as a modern state, and something which remains alien to most of the region. What used to be a command economy in Iraq we are rapidly transforming into a free market economy. In the past 3 years, our gross domestic product per capita has more than doubled, and it is expected that our economy will continue to grow.'' He went on to say, ``While small sections of central Iraq are unstable, large sections have remained peaceful but ignored for far too long. They were the most deprived areas of Iraq under the previous regime and have been the most valiant in Iraq's struggle for freedom. We need to make an example out of these stable areas as models for the rest of the country. ``Reconstruction projects in these areas will tackle unemployment, which will weaken the terrorists. They will become prototypes for other, more volatile regions to aspire to. Undoubtedly, reconstruction in these areas will fuel economic growth and show what a prosperous, stable, democratic, and federal Iraq would look like.'' Today, Saddam Hussein is in prison awaiting the end of his trial. Zarqawi, the leader of the al Qaeda in Iraq, was eliminated by United States troops. Iraqi security forces now number over 265,000 and are participating in more than 90 percent of all security operations in the country. Iraqi citizens are coming forth with tips about insurgents and terrorist activities. More than 70 percent of Iraqi citizens voted in a series of free and fair elections. Those figures are some that those of us in this country could be envious of. The progress in Iraq has not been without cost. This past week, a citizen of the Fifth District of Virginia from Greene County, a little community of Ruckersville, was killed by an IED. He was Corporal Adam Fargo. He went to William Monroe High School. He volunteered for service in the United States Army. He, like so many of us who have volunteered on behalf of our country, has made the positive statistics and the statements and the changes in Iraq possible. But it is not just for the country of Iraq, it is for the United States of America. We have indeed been fortunate in this country. Over the last 200 some odd years since our Nation was founded, rarely have there been attacks upon our homeland. Most of the fighting in World War II was abroad. All of the fighting in World War I was abroad. In Korea, the fighting was abroad. In Vietnam, the fighting was in Asia. And now, when we are in the Middle East, back in the Gulf War of 1990, 1991, the fighting was there. We liberated Kuwait. And now today, following September 11 when we were hit on our own soil, in Afghanistan men and women in our Armed Forces are standing up for America, and some have given their lives, have given their all for our Nation. Our Nation is a beacon on a hill. It is the land of the free and the home of the brave because of those persons like Adam Fargo who have stood by our country and made those of us who are in the United States of America far safer and given us the ability to enjoy democracy and the greatest freedom in the world. We need to thank all of our troops, and particularly those for whom we can never express enough gratitude for they have given their lives so that all of us may be free and that our democracy can be a shining light for the rest of the world.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5061, the Paint Bank and Wytheville National Fish Hatcheries Conveyance Act. I want to thank the Gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Boucher, for introducing this legislation, which grants the title to these two hatcheries to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since 1983, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has successfully operated these two hatcheries on behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Thanks to the hard work and substantial investment by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the 13 full-time employees working at the fish hatcheries, these hatcheries consistently produce large stocks of brook, brown and rainbow trout for recreational fishing every year. In fact, the Paint Bank and Wytheville Hatcheries can produce up to 861,632 trout each year, which accounts for over 40 percent of the trout stocked for public fishing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth has also pledged to invest an additional $4.5 million to continue renovation of these hatcheries in an effort to further enhance the hatcheries capabilities and efficiency. There are over 2,300 miles of trout streams in Virginia and the Paint Bank and Wytheville Fish Hatcheries are vital to ensuring that these streams are well stocked with large and healthy fish populations. For this reason, I am glad to support H.R. 5061, which will allow the Commonwealth of Virginia to continue to maintain the trout population for recreational fishing for people who live in and visit Virginia. I appreciate the work of Mr. Boucher in crafting this legislation and I urge its passage today.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Thank you, Mr. King. I want to thank you for having this hour to address this most important topic. I also want to thank Congressman Tancredo for his tireless efforts over about an 8-year period. I was thinking the other day when the Immigration Reform Caucus first started that there was a handful of Members, and I believe it was around 1998 or 1999 when it first began. And now I think there are over 100 Members in that caucus. Well over a third of the House is in the Immigration Reform Caucus. And the issue received very little attention prior to September 11. After that the issue received greater attention. I will have to say that I remember the days in the late 1990s when Mr. Tancredo would come over here, and others who would talk on this issue, and it was almost as if he had leprosy. They did not want to talk about the issue. But the issue is probably the burning issue in the country today. If not, it is certainly in the top three. And I want to thank Mr. King, Mr. Tancredo, Mr. Miller, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Wilson, and a number of other persons that are here tonight focusing on this issue which is so crucial to the future of the United States of America. If the massive invasion is not stopped, we are going to be flooded to the extent that we will drift into third world status. For our children and for our grandchildren, we cannot fail on this issue. You mentioned magnets, and that is the reason so many come. Let us talk for a minute about amnesty. In my district there are some persons, I am pretty sure, here illegally, in the United States, and it is common sense, street talk about why they come. They say if we can get across the border, swim the Rio Grande, or walk across the mountains, avoid the dangers and the pitfalls of the gyrating temperatures, if we can get to this country and we just stay here a few years, history tells us we will get an amnesty and we will be okay. We can avoid the checks that all the others go through. We can avoid the background checks. We can avoid the health checks. We can avoid the security reviews that going through a regular visa process or becoming an H-1B or an H-2B or an H-2A worker involves. Amnesty is the magnet. Other magnets that you mentioned are anchor babies who get benefits in this country and employer deductions for employees, even if they are here illegally, which Mr. King is addressing. There are a number of other magnets, but probably the biggest magnet is the notion, if I can get there just for a little while and stay a couple of years, I will be safe; I will never have to go back. There will be some in that body across the hall or in the executive branch down at Pennsylvania Avenue saying there is nothing we can do; they are here now, we cannot be firm. But I would submit to you, as some of you on this issue have stated in the past, if we were to draw a line in the sand and say the Senate bill that includes amnesty would never become law, we will never have it in this country, we are putting a line in the sand tonight in saying no amnesty under any conditions, those that marched in by the tens of thousands would likely march out by the tens of thousands because they would know then that their hope for an amnesty like that which occurred in 1986 and like that which occurred under President Clinton would not happen again. Failure to address this issue with firmness and forcefulness is creating a dangerous situation in this country. We have all talked about how those who would do us harm can infiltrate and become part of the flood that rolls into America day after day, hour after hour, and week after week. We must secure our borders. We only have to look at the prison population in the United States. I serve on the Commerce, Justice, State Subcommittee of Appropriations. The head of the Department of the Federal Bureau of Prisons testified before our subcommittee just a couple of months ago, there are 189,000 persons incarcerated in the Federal penal system. Of that 189,000, 50,000 of them, according to him, are illegal aliens. Think how much we could reduce the Federal prison costs if we had no illegal aliens in this country. Think how much you could reduce local jail costs and State prison costs. That percentage of incarcerated illegal aliens far exceeds the percentage of illegal aliens in our current population. I would like to close by mentioning deficit reduction. I hear many persons across the 5th District of Virginia, around the Commonwealth and in other parts of our country say, we need to get the deficit under control, we need to be in a position in this country of not having a deficit. When you add up the impact of illegal immigration on our local governments, our State governments and our own Federal Government, you are talking around $70 billion per year, and that is probably a low estimate. Stop illegal immigration by saying ``no'' to amnesty ever, and by adopting a number of the measures that the fighters for border security support, and we will go a long way towards ending the deficit in this country. Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to address you.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to tell the House and the United States that leading edge research into the development of alternative fuels is happening as we speak in the Fifth District of Virginia at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, Virginia. The institute is a mission of Virginia's land grant institution, Virginia Tech. The institute anchors the technology economy of southside Virginia, and one of its research initiatives focus on sustainable and renewable resources. In particular, the scientists working in this field are directing their efforts toward generating alternative energy from renewable resources such as switchgrass and hybrid poplars. The scientists believe that these renewable resources can be used in biofuels, biodiesels and bioenergy. The research being conducted at the institute is not just laboratory work, it is applied research. In that light, the institute has formed a partnership with Wendy Acres Nursery in Gretna, Virginia, also in the Fifth District. At Wendy Acres, they are growing species of switchgrass and hybrid poplar which have a low ash content when processed. This characteristic makes these plants better suited for bioenergy and biofuels. These species are being bred and investigated for use in short-rotation woody plant species and herbaceous perennials as feedstocks by the Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources to determine the most efficient production of bioenergy and biofuels. Mr. Speaker, I have here a container of wood chips. I also have a container of switchgrass. What the scientists have come up with is this biofuel. This is just steps away from being able to be utilized in vehicles all across this Nation. I look forward to the day when we have no dependence on Venezuela and Mr. Chavez for our oil needs. I look forward to the day when we have no dependence on the Middle East and sheiks there for our oil needs. I look forward to the day when we are free of foreign fossil fuel. And I hope all across America we can do as they are doing in Danville and other places, making our own fuel and giving us energy independence.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I rise for the purpose of engaging in a brief colloquy with the chairman regarding funding for several recreation areas at two Virginia lakes managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I commend the chairman and his staff for their hard work on this bill. Considering the budget constraints, they have crafted excellent legislation. In response to what the Corps of Engineers has identified as low funding for Operations and Maintenance, the corps has announced plans to evaluate seven recreation sites for possible closure in 2007 at John H. Kerr Lake and Philpott Lake in Virginia. These recreation sites are of great importance to citizens in these areas, and their closure would net only a savings of $97,000. There must be other ways for the corps to reform its procedures in order to reduce spending while keeping these recreation sites open to the public as camp grounds and picnic areas. I hope that we can continue to work together to identify ways in which funding can be provided for these recreation areas either through additional funds that may become available in conference or through more appropriate reforms by the Corps of Engineers.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the remaining time. There can be no question that in this country, at this time, we have a huge problem along the southern border. As the Congressman from Arizona indicated, we are being massively invaded every day by hundreds and thousands of persons. Drug smugglers are among this number. Persons from terrorist countries are among this number. We need to use every tool we possibly can to address this situation. We need to authorize troops on the border in peace time, and we need some rough and tough people down there to get this situation straight because it is certainly not straight today. Stand up for preserving the integrity of the United States of America and vote ``yes'' for troops on the border.

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. In response to what the gentleman from Texas was saying, we are talking about the authorization for troops to be on the border in nonemergency situations. If you allow troops on the border in nonemergency situations, you will see lawsuits, litigations and potential for liability for anything that happens along the border involving those troops. We need to secure America and authorize troops in peace time in nonemergency situations along the border.

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).

Mr. GOODE. This is an amendment that we have addressed in the past. This amendment would authorize but not mandate the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, working with the Secretary of the Department of Defense, to utilize troops, if necessary, to protect our borders in peace time in a nonemergency situation. The gentleman from Texas, who had a long and distinguished career with the Border Patrol, indicates that we don't need troops on the border now. I would certainly say that the massive invasion from Mexico into this country on a daily basis that reaches thousands upon thousands in numbers day after day and month after month and year after year, we need something. And just having this authority, in my opinion, would enhance our border security so that it could be utilized in peace time in a nonemergency situation to supplement the Border Patrol and other efforts to secure our borders. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Robert G. Canar has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious achievements in public service to this Nation by serving the United States Army for over 42 years. Mr. Canar began his public service career in the U.S. Army as an air defense artillery officer and as a military intelligence officer. During his 22 years on active duty, he served in various assignments in Vietnam, Korea, Europe and in the United States. Mr. Canar joined the former Foreign Science and Technology Center in 1983 when he was assigned as a division chief supervising collection requirements, imagery, and electronics intelligence branches. Because of his demonstrated abilities, he has been given positions of greater responsibility as the director, information management, and later as the director, programs and resources, which led to major initiatives to renovate Foreign Science and Technology Center's facilities to accommodate growth of the workforce and to secure facilities to meet Sensitive Compartmented Information standards. Mr. Canar served as the National Ground Intelligence Center's chief of staff from 1994 to 2003, and as the center's acting executive director from 2003 to 2004. In response to the Global War on Terrorism, the center underwent a massive growth with the influx of new responsibilities to support the soldier. In 2004 Mr. Canar volunteered to serve for a year as the senior intelligence officer with the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, Baghdad, Iraq. In this capacity he supervised an International Police Liaison Officer Team and a Multi-National Command-Iraq military team which organized and trained the Iraq Ministry of Interior Criminal Intelligence Service Directorate. He ended his civil service career as the special assistant to the commander, National Ground Intelligence Center responsible for the establishment of a Joint Use Intelligence Analysis Facility in Charlottesville, VA. Throughout his service, Mr. Canar has provided outstanding leadership, sound advice and expert professional judgment on significant issues that affected the Army. His actions and counsel were invaluable to Army leaders as they considered the issues facing the Nation today. Mr. Canar's dedication to accomplishing the Army's missions has been extraordinary. He has been a truly outstanding public servant and will be missed by the United States Army.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, today I want to share material prepared by former Ambassador William B. Jones to the nation of Haiti. He is currently the Johns Professor of Political Science at Hampden-Sydney College, which is located in the Fifth District of Virginia. It is the opinion of Ambassador Jones and of myself that citizens of foreign countries illegally in the United States should not be counted to determine congressional representation nor for the Electoral College. The Framers of our Constitution would not have sanctioned illegality as a basis for determining congressional representation and certainly not in fixing the numbers of Presidential electors. The extensive debates on congressional representation were focused on slavery resulting in the three-fifths of a person rationale. It is ridiculous to assume that any of the Framers, given the tenor of their debate and their dedication to establishing a rule of law, would ever have considered allowing citizens of foreign countries illegally in the United States to play a role in determining control in the Congress and the election of the President. To assume otherwise would construe the Constitution as protecting and sanctioning illegality. It was not until the post-Civil War amendments that the issue of defining citizenship arose. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were drafted to redress the inequities of slavery. They were never intended to give blanket sanctions to illegality. ``Persons,'' as used in those amendments, clearly were intended to mean persons who were legally in the country. It would be ridiculous to assume that the Framers of those amendments, which were intended to safeguard the rights of former slaves or who had been in the country since its founding, intended in any way, shape or form to sanction illegality. The purpose was to enshrine a legal concept of equality, not to twist that concept to sustain, support, sanction or condone illegality. Once it is determined that the Constitution cannot be used to sanction, authorize, protect or promote illegality, the issue is, what is the remedy to correct the wrongs that have been done to our system of determining congressional representation in fixing the numbers of the Electoral College? As every citizen has the right to fair and equitable representation and to know that his or her vote is of the same weight as that of any other citizen, then any citizen who has lost representation as a result of the counting of citizens of foreign countries illegally in the United States for the purposes of congressional and electoral representation has standing and can bring action to redress the grievance. Also, and perhaps most important, States that have lost congressional seats and have had their electoral vote reduced as a result of the counting of citizens of foreign countries illegally in the United States may have standing to bring action to redress their grievance. It is quite possible that a fair evaluation of the results of counting citizens of foreign states illegally in the United States would actually show that in States that have had their congressional and electoral power increased, there may have actually been an outflow of U.S. citizens and the entire increase in their political power is due to the influx of citizens of foreign countries illegally in this country. Therefore, a constitutional amendment may not be necessary to redress the inequalities caused by citizens of the United States by counting of citizens of foreign countries illegally in the United States for purposes of apportioning congressional and electoral college members. The Framers of our Constitution, in their great wisdom, enshrined the rule of law into our highest compact. To ignore the rule of law and to allow its subversion to shift and determine political power is totally contrary to the intent of the Framers of the Constitution and of the Framers of the Civil War amendments. The practicality of determining accurate numbers for congressional and electoral representation is not a deterrent. Modern technology provides many ways of assessing numbers. In fact, almost on a daily basis the number of persons who are citizens of foreign countries illegally in the United States is estimated. Demographics, residential patterns, linguistic realities make it relatively simple to accurately determine numbers and redress the inequities that have resulted in accepting and even supporting illegality. The fact that those persons may pay some taxes is not relevant and nothing in the Constitution lists payment of taxes as a guarantor of the right to be counted for the purpose of fixing congressional and electoral representation. The Constitution does insist that political power be equitably divided among the States and no State should have advantage based on illegality. States have an obligation to protect and defend the rights of their citizens. Those states that have lost Congressional seats and Electoral College votes should bring appropriate legal action to ensure the equitable and constitutional distribution of political power. The United States Supreme Court should be ultimate determiner of the meaning and intent of the Constitution not the Census Bureau.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, Sarah Terry, who is the director of the Farmville Fifth District Office, has battled breast cancer for the last several years and has undergone numerous chemotherapy treatments. She has served as Executive Director of the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Longwood University Board of Visitors, and a leading promoter of outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling. She is a leading proponent of the Virginia Life Fund for the Uninsured, which has raised funds for catastrophic health care for those who cannot afford insurance. Sarah's enthusiasm for life, her community and her fellow Americans is contagious; and she is a true inspiration for many. We are grateful for the contributions that she has made; and we look forward to her continued outstanding service to Farmville, Virginia, and America.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Madam Speaker, first I want to say it is a pleasure to be here with Reverend Don Davidson today. Reverend Davidson used to live in the Fifth District of Virginia, and I want to wish him the best in his new location in Alexandria. Days before we observe Ronald Reagan's birthday, I think it important to share some of the achievements of Ronald Reagan's Oral History Project developed by the Miller Center at the University of Virginia. This project began in August 2001. In 45 interviews, it has recorded volumes about President Reagan's political career. The purpose of the Oral History Project is to record recollections of persons apart from the pressures of incumbency. A majority of the almost 3,000 pages of transcripts will be released later this month, and the Miller Center will hold a three-part forum to celebrate their release. Nancy Reagan commented that the Miller Center has become a valuable part of our lives, as it works closely with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to create a definitive oral history of the Reagan presidency.

Mr. GOODE

Mr. GOODE. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Hunter, Chairman Dreier and all of the supporters of this amendment. Will this wall, will this fence make America absolutely safe, absolutely secure, and will it stop every illegal alien? No, it will not, but it will make us more secure. It will make us safer, and it will surely cut down the horrific numbers that flood into this country. Vote to help save America. Vote yes on Hunter.