Gene Green

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Navy PO Zarian Wood, who died May 16 while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense. Petty Officer Wood of Houston was a 1999 graduate of South Houston High School who had served as a youth minister and tutor before enlisting in the Navy. Known to friends and family as a giving young man, he followed his father's footsteps in service to his country. Petty Officer Wood was deployed to Iraq as a hospital corpsman from 2007-2008 and upon returning home he volunteered for a second combat tour in Afghanistan. He was assigned to India Company, as a hospital corpsman in the Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. On May 14, 3\1/2\ weeks into deployment, Petty Officer Wood sustained wounds when an improvised explosive device detonated during foot patrol in the Helmand Province. I know his father, family and friends are devastated by this loss, but they should be proud of the great man Zarian Wood had become and that he died a hero while serving his country. His loss will be felt by all of Houston, our state, and our nation, and I ask that you remember the family in your thoughts and prayers. I would like to submit for the record this article on Officer Wood that appeared in the Houston Chronicle on May 18. [From the Houston Chronicle, May 18, 2010] Sailor Served as ``Doc,'' Volunteered for Combat (By Lindsay Wise) Volunteer: Petty Officer Zarian Wood died Sunday of wounds suffered in Afghanistan. Before he deployed to Afghanistan last month, Zarian Wood visited his father and brother for a week at their home in south Houston. The three men played video games, dined on steak and shrimp and lounged on camping chairs in the driveway. It was like a mini family reunion, recalled his father, Daniel Wood. ``Just before he left, he told me, `Dad, take care of yourself and everything, and I'll be back,' '' he said. The 29-year-old Navy petty officer third class from Houston died Sunday of wounds inflicted by a bomb blast during a foot patrol in Helmand Province. He had only been in Afghanistan about 3\1/2\ weeks. ``He was a good honest Christian man,'' said his father, a 63-year-old Vietnam veteran. ``He thought he went over there to help children and help the country better itself, and wham.'' The father took a shaking breath, still stunned by the news. ``Ah well, he's with the good Lord, you know,'' he said. Nicknamed ``Z,'' Zarian graduated in 1999 from South Houston High School, where he'd competed on the wrestling team. Youth pastor, tutor He worked as a youth pastor and tutor for troubled kids on Houston's northeast side and a merchandiser for Coca-Cola before enlisting in 2006. His decision to undergo rigorous training to become a hospital corpsman was very much in character for him, his relatives say. ``He was a very giving young man and my mother taught all of us that when you have nothing to give you have yourself to give,'' said his sister, Teresa Robertson. Zarian deployed to Iraq from 2007-2008. His relatives said he volunteered for his second combat tour, this time a seven- month stint in Afghanistan, where he served as ``Doc'' on the front lines alongside Marine infantrymen from Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. ``He was taking care of other folks,'' his father said. ``He was doing what he wanted to do, and he was doing it for his beliefs. He didn't want younger men to have to see and do what he'd seen and done over there.'' Zarian was the third Texan and third member of this Marine battalion to be killed in Afghanistan recently. Cpl. Jeffrey Johnson, 21, of Tomball was also killed May 11 by an improvised explosive device while on a foot patrol. Sgt. Kenneth B. May Jr., 26, of Kilgore, also died in that attack. Johnson and May served in Weapons Company. The close-knit Wood family gathered on Tuesday to make funeral arrangements and remember the fallen corpsman. ``He had a good heart, very outgoing, worked out at the gym every day,'' said his older brother, Zachary Wood. ``He cared about his looks.'' ``He was very meticulous about that,'' his father said with a laugh. ``He was a handsome man.'' Wanted to be a dentist He was an honest man, too, even to the point of being blunt, his brother said. ``Yeah, he'd tell you in a flat minute if you were wrong,'' his father said. ``Then again, he'd stand up for you in a flat minute if you were right.'' He said his son dreamed of going back to school someday. ``He wanted to study radiology and then after he got that degree, he was going to try to become a dentist,'' he said. ``He was all about living life, living life to the fullest,'' his brother said. Zarian was preceded in death by his mother, Nellie Sue Wood. He is survived by his father, Daniel Wood, and siblings Zachary Wood, Krista Hamilton, Teresa Robertson, Victor Robertson and Micah Dixon. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1155, commending the progress made by anti-tuberculosis programs. Tuberculosis is the second leading global infectious disease killer behind HIV/AIDS, claiming approximately 1.8 million lives each year. It is estimated that \1/3\ of the world's population is infected with TB. This disease kills people of all races and ages around the world. The global TB pandemic and spread of drug resistant TB presents a persistent public health threat to the U.S. The WHO reports that 5 percent of all new TB cases are drug resistant, with estimates of up to 28 percent drug resistant reported in some parts of Russia. Of these numbers, it is estimated that only 7 percent are receiving treatment. Although drugs, diagnostics and vaccines for TB exist, these technologies are antiquated and are increasingly inadequate for controlling the global epidemic. The most commonly used TB diagnostic in the world, sputum microscopy, is more than 100 years old and lacks sensitivity to detect TB in most HIV/AIDS patients and in children. Drug susceptibility tests for drug resistant TB take 2-4 weeks to complete, during which time a drug resistant TB patient in a developing country may die. The TB vaccine, BCG, provides some protection to children, but has little or no efficacy in preventing pulmonary TB in adults. We will never be able to defeat TB without the introduction of new identification, treatment and prevention tools. World TB Day also provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the significant gains made in the fight against TB and reminds us of the challenges ahead. Since 1995, 36 million people around the world have successfully been treated for TB and 9 million lives have been saved. Less than 2 years ago, this Congress passed two historic laws to combat TB. The Comprehensive TB Elimination Act authorizes the tools to put the U.S. on the path to TB elimination and the Lantos-Hyde Act, with multilateral commitment, aims to reduce the global TB burden by half within a decade. Both of these laws would support an increased research investment to get us the new TB diagnostic, treatment and prevention tools that we urgently need. With enactment of these 2 laws, we have the power to combat TB effectively and reduce the human misery that this disease wreaks around the world. I want to commend Rep. Engel for his tremendous efforts on TB awareness and urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1155.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Spring Woods Methodist Church on celebrating its 50th anniversary. The current Pastor is Dr. J.D. Phillips and the church is composed of people from all walks of life. I am a member of the church and am proud of this accomplishment. Spring Woods has the distinction of being the first Methodist church in Northwest Houston. The first service was held on October 18, 1959, and was attended by 18 people at Spring Elementary School. On May 15, 1960, Dr. Homer T. Fort, the Houston West District superintendent officially recognized Spring Woods Methodist Church. Through assistance from the Room to Grow Program, the church purchased five and a half acres on FM 1960 for the future church site. The original charter membership was composed of 44 people and by the end of the year, the number increased to 106. Today the congregation numbers over 1,000 members and continues to serve the Lord by serving the people of Northwest Houston Since the church was built, they have added several buildings on the property. This includes an 18,000 square foot education/administrative office building. And so it is with great pleasure that I recognize and congratulate Spring Woods Methodist Church on celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, because this Congress must continue to make sure that Americans are getting back to work and that we are continuing to move our economy forward. In our congressional district, the construction industry is one of the highest sources of income for residents, yet this industry has been especially hard-hit by the recent economic downturn. Unemployment rates in the construction industry have risen almost 17.4 percent and have shed over 134,000 jobs over the past two years. The HomeStar program seeks to increase employment in the construction and construction-related sectors and increase building energy efficiency to significantly reduce energy use in America. It is estimated that the program will create approximately 168,000 more jobs in the construction and manufacturing sectors, while promoting American-made goods and services. The program also seeks to address the issue of rising home energy costs by improving building energy efficiency. I have always been a strong supporter of energy efficiency and I am pleased the HomeStar program will build on already existing energy efficient retrofitting programs to save homeowners as much as $9.2 billion in energy costs over 10 years. Congress should continue to invest in job creation and energy efficiency measures in order to keep our nation a leader in the global economy. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to explain how I would have voted on rollcall votes cast on April 29, 2010. Due to prior commitments in Houston, I was returning home and was not able to make the last series of votes. Had I been present, I would have voted on the following: ``No,'' on rollcall vote #234, the Foxx of North Carolina Amendment; ``No,'' on rollcall vote #235, the Gutierrez of Illinois Amendment No. Two; ``No,'' on rollcall vote #236, the Gutierrez of Illinois Amendment No. Three; ``Yes,'' on rollcall vote #237, the Burton of Indiana Amendment; ``No,'' on rollcall vote #238, the Velazquez of New York Amendment No. Five; ``No,'' on rollcall vote #239, the Velazquez of New York Amendment No. Six; ``No,'' on rollcall vote #240, the Velazquez of New York Amendment No. Seven; ``No,'' on rollcall vote #241, the Motion to Recommit on H.R. 2499 the Puerto Rico Democracy Act; ``Yes,'' on rollcall vote #242, on passage of H.R. 2499 the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. Madam Speaker, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2499, and strongly supported its passage in a statement made last week. I am pleased this legislation has passed the House and hope to see it move forward in the Senate to give the people of Puerto Rico and opportunity to determine their future.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 242, final passage of H.R. 2499, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Stated against:

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1103--Celebrating the life of Sam Houston on the 217th anniversary of his birth. Sam Houston was born March 2, 1793, in Tiber Ridge, Virginia. General Houston was an American statesman, politician, and soldier. He is a key figure in the history of Texas, including periods as the 1st and 3rd president of the Republic of Texas, as Senator after annexation, and finally as governor. In his early life, he moved to Tennessee, where he served in the military during the War of 1812 and later had a successful career in Tennessee politics. A fight with a Congressman led to his move to Texas, where he soon became a leader of the Texas Revolution. Houston attended the Convention of 1833, representing Nacogdoches, and supported independence from Mexico. He was made a Major General of the Texas Army in November 1835, then Commander-in-Chief in March 1836, at the convention where he signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. At the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, General Houston surprised General Santa Ana and the Mexican forces, and in less than 18 minutes, the battle was over. General Santa Ana was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco, granting Texas independence. During the battle General Houston was shot, shattering his ankle. The settlement of Houston was founded in August 1836 by the Allen brothers. It was named in Houston's honor and served as capital. Houston was twice elected president of the Republic of Texas. He served from October 1836 to December 1838, and again from December 1841 to December 1844. While he initially sought annexation by the U.S., he dropped that hope during his first term. After the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845, Houston was elected to the U.S. Senate. He served from February 1846 until March 1859. He twice ran for governor of Texas, unsuccessfully in 1857 and successfully in 1859. Despite Houston's being a slave owner and against abolition, he opposed the secession of Texas from the Union. Despite Houston's wishes, Texas seceded from the United States in February 1861 and joined the Confederate States of America in March 1861. This act was soon branded illegal by Houston, but the Texas legislature nevertheless upheld the legitimacy of secession. The political forces that brought about Texas's secession also were powerful enough to replace the state's Unionist governor. To avoid bloodshed, Governor Houston chose not to resist, and instead retired to Huntsville, Texas, where he died before the end of the Civil War. Today, Governor Houston has a memorial museum, a U.S. Army base, a national forest, a historical park, a university, and the largest free- standing statue of an American figure, in his honor.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1262, which honors the victims of the fire at the Tesoro Refinery in Anacortes, Washington and expresses condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones in the wake of this tragic incident. On April 2, 2010, as a team of seven employees worked in the refinery's naphtha hydro-treater, a devastating fire broke out. While the fire was quickly brought under control by Tesoro's fire control team and local first responders, three of the employees died immediately in the fire, three more died of their injuries, and another remains in intensive care after suffering severe burns. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the community of Anacortes and the entire state of Washington, including to Representative Rick Larsen who represents the affected community. Our district has five refineries that employ many of our constituents and we share in their unfortunate loss. As we continue to deal with the devastating consequences of this episode, we must also direct our attention to preventing losses of life like this in the future. Ensuring the safety of our refineries must be a top priority to protect the security and wellbeing of our workers, their families, and communities. Again, I would like to express my condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those killed in the fire and also offer my support and hope for a full recovery to the Anacortes community.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on April 21, 1836, 174 years ago today, Texas forces led by General Sam Houston dealt a decisive blow to General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his oppressive government. Several weeks after signing the Texas Declaration of Independence in March of 1836, roughly 900 members of the Texan army overpowered a much larger Mexican Army in a surprise attack. Some 700 Mexican soldiers were killed and 730 captured, while nine Texans died. The Texas army quickly and silently moved toward Santa Anna's camp. They were able to get very close because General Santa Anna was still pleased with his victory at the Alamo and failed to post men to watch the Texans' actions. At close range, the ``Twin Sisters'' drawn by rawhide thongs, were wheeled into position to begin unloading shells at the napping Mexican Army. The cannons were gifts from the people of Cincinnati, Ohio. Texas soldiers followed the bombardment and yelled and shouted ``Remember the Alamo'' and ``Remember Goliad'' stopping only a few yards from the Mexican solders to open fire in a surprise attack. The Mexican soldiers were better trained than their Texas opponents. They were caught off guard. It was a bold attack in broad daylight. Texas General Sam Houston, former Member of this Congress from Tennessee, future President of the Republic of Texas, future U.S. Senator and Governor of Texas, had two horses shot out from under him and was shot and his ankle was shattered. Santa Anna was captured that day and held prisoner and signed peace treaties to give Texas independence. The battle is memorialized along the San Jacinto River with a monument in our district in La Porte, Texas. A panel on the side of the monument states: ``Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American Nation, nearly one million square miles, changed sovereignty.'' That's what we're commemorating today.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the President's budget proposal to cancel our human space flight program. It's under the Constellation Program, which was authorized both by Democrat and Republican Congresses respectively, that NASA is currently developing new launch vehicles capable of traveling to the moon, Mars, and other destinations. Not only does canceling the Constellation Program jeopardize America's leadership role in human space exploration, but it will have a detrimental effect on our economy, projecting job losses of 30,000 nationally. Given our current economic downturn, we can't take the possibility of losing these jobs lightly. Our government has already invested literally years and billions of dollars in this program. We should build on these investments and not abandon them, especially considering the private sector will not be able to build a better, faster, cheaper rocket before the Constellation Program is slated to be finished because the technologies NASA proposed to use do not exist yet, nor has any destination been chosen. Constellation is our only hope to close the current 5-year gap in U.S. access to space, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in opposition to the proposal to close Constellation.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 222--Recognizing the leadership and historical contributions of Dr. Hector P. Garcia to the Hispanic community and his remarkable efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States. Dr. Garcia was born in Mexico, in 1914, but his family fled the Mexican Revolution and immigrated to Mercedes, Texas. His is an inspirational story of the possibilities the American Dream holds for immigrants. Through hard work and perseverance, he became a surgeon and served his country in World War II Dr. Garcia's experiences after his return from the war led him to found the American GI Forum in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dr. Garcia began helping Mexican-American veterans file claims with the Veterans' Administration, in response to the unacceptably slow treatment they were receiving. On March 26, 1948. he called a meeting to address the concerns of these veterans. This developed into the American GI Forum, which soon had chapters in 40 Texas cities and became the way by which Mexican-American veterans could express their frustration with the discrimination against-them. And so it is with great pleasure that I recognize Dr. Hector P. Garcia, for his service to our country and to the Mexican-American community, and I support this resolution.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1258, the Truth in Caller ID Act, an important bill, and one I have taken an interest in as we have worked on it over the last several Congresses in the Energy and Commerce Committee. Caller ID is a great benefit to millions of Americans by giving them more control over their telephones and who and when they talk on the phone. Like many technological advances, caller ID is a benefit, but bad actors can take advantage of it and turn the technology against the people it is supposed to help. We want certain people to be able to mask caller ID information for good purposes, like protecting abused women and children or anonymous whistleblowers, but we do not want people to be able to do it for deceptive purposes. Last Congress, I had some concern that the bill language did not go far enough to address an issue that arose in Texas with robocalls that were using misleading caller ID information, and I worked with Mr. Engel on an amendment to address that. Every election year, there are reports of abusive or deceptive political robocalls and recently reports claim some of these calls are using deceptive caller ID information. We don't want to limit anyone's political speech, but why should we allow someone to call voters with fake caller ID info claiming they are from the local Democratic or Republican Party when they are not? We also do not want these automated calls to use innocent businesses' caller ID info which causes people to blame innocent businesses instead of the real source for the calls. I applaud the bill's sponsor for strengthening the language to prevent this kind of deception during the Committee process. I strongly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for it.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of World TB Day. Tuberculosis is the second leading global infectious disease killer behind HIV/AIDS, claiming approximately 1.8 million lives each year. It is estimated that \1/3\ of the world's population is infected with TB. This disease kills people of all races and ages around the world. The global TB pandemic and spread of drug resistant TB presents a persistent public health threat to the U.S. The WHO reports that 5 percent of all new TB cases are drug resistant, with estimates of up to 28 percent drug resistant reported in some parts of Russia. Of these numbers, it is estimated that only 7 percent are receiving treatment. Although drugs, diagnostics and vaccines for TB exist, these technologies are antiquated and are increasingly inadequate for controlling the global epidemic. The most commonly used TB diagnostic in the world, sputum microscopy, is more than 100 years old and lacks sensitivity to detect TB in most HIV/AIDS patients and in children. Drug susceptibility tests for drug resistant TB take 2-4 weeks to complete, during which time a drug resistant TB patient in a developing country may die. The TB vaccine, BCG, provides some protection to children, but has little or no efficacy in preventing pulmonary TB in adults. We will never be able to defeat TB without the introduction of new identification, treatment and prevention tools. World TB Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the significant gains made in the fight against TB and reminds of us the challenges ahead. Since 1995, 36 million people around the world have successfully been treated for TB and 9 million lives have been saved. Less than 2 years ago, this Congress passed two historic laws to combat TB. The Comprehensive TB Elimination Act authorizes the tools to put the U.S. on the path to TB elimination and the Lantos-Hyde Act, with multi-lateral commitment, aims to reduce the global TB burden by half within a decade. Both of these laws would support an increased research investment to get us the new TB diagnostic, treatment and prevention tools that we urgently need. With enactment of these 2 laws, we have the power to combat TB effectively and reduce the human misery that this disease wreaks around the world. I urge my colleagues to work with me and our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to fully fund these measures.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, due to previous district commitments in Houston yesterday, I was not able to vote on rollcall votes taken during the evening of March 19 and March 20. I rise today to notify the House and the public on how I would have voted on those missed rollcall votes. On House rollcall vote 144, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 145, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 146, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 147, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 148, ``no''; On House rollcall vote 149, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 150, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 151, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 152, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 153, ``yes''; On House rollcall vote 154, ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I do not take my voting responsibilities lightly. My voting percentage in the 111th Congress is over 96 percent. I rarely miss votes, but with the long week in Washington like all of us have had, I had previous commitments I could not miss in the district.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3590 and also H.R. 4872. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010. We are in desperate need of health care reform in the 29th District in Texas. We have one of the highest number of uninsured individuals in our country where nearly 43 percent of the residents are uninsured. If enacted, H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872 would provide insurance coverage to 95 percent of all Americans and for 223,500 currently uninsured residents in the 29th district. It will also improve the employer based coverage for 217,000 residents in my district. Also, approximately 177,000 families and 14.600 small businesses will receive tax credits and other assistance to help them afford health insurance coverage under these bills. The legislation before us today will give all individuals the ability to access quality affordable health insurance, and approximately 34,500 residents in our district will no longer be denied coverage for preexisting conditions and their coverage cannot be capped or dropped when they get sick. The legislation before us today also ensures no more co-pays for preventive care, no more yearly caps on what the insurance company will cover, and provides premium subsidies for those who need them. We will also improve Medicare benefits for 56,000 seniors in our district by closing the Part D donut hole over time and immediately provide seniors who are in the donut hole with a $250 credit in 2010. The legislation also improves seniors' benefits under Medicare by providing free preventive and wellness care, improving primary and coordinated care, and enhancing nursing home care. The bill also strengthens the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its solvency from 2017 to 2026. H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872 will rein in rising health costs for American families and small businesses--introducing competition that will drive premiums down, capping out-of-pocket spending. According to the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, this legislation is fully paid for by eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and excessive profits for private insurers. Nationwide, these health reform bills will reduce the deficit by over $130 billion over the next 10 years and by about $1.2 trillion over the second decade. Texas will also benefit from the legislation before us today. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services, TDHHS, released estimates that H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872 will cost the State $24 billion over the next 10 years--this is inaccurate. These estimates are incorrect because they do not include the federal expansion and 100 percent contribution of Medicaid payments until 2018. Right now Texas accounts for 7 percent of Medicaid spending nationally. If those levels stay the same after the State-based exchanges are set up, the cost to the State of Texas would be $1.4 billion and not $24 billion. Additionally, the bill will reduce the expenses related to uncompensated care in our State by $15 million annually. Currently, there are 5.9 million uninsured individuals in Texas. Under H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872 nearly all of those individuals will have health insurance and most of it will be funded at federal expense--not at the expense of Texas. In fact, given the size of the State it is entirely possible that Texas will receive the largest amount of federal investment of any other State and create many new jobs in the health care sector. The time for health reform has come. Health insurance premiums are growing three times faster than wages and last year, more than half of Americans postponed medical care or skipped their medications because they couldn't afford it. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the legislation today not only for my constituents, but for all Americans.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, Members, we, as Members of Congress, this week have a choice. We have a choice between voting with the people who need health care or voting with the insurance corporations who have fouled this system up for decades. The bill that we're going to deal with, the consumers select their insurance plan and their company. Consumers select their doctors. Consumers make treatment decisions with their doctors. Consumers will keep coverage they have if they change their jobs. The insurance companies will have less control. Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage or revoke coverage for preexisting conditions. Insurance companies will no longer be allowed to cap medical costs that people run into all the time for treatment. Insurance companies will no longer be allowed to drop coverage when you get sick. Insurance companies will have to compete for business. That's why we have a choice. Whose side is your Member of Congress on, with the people who need health care or the ones who want to sell it?

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor both my alma mater and hometown school, the University of Houston, and its men's basketball team, for being selected for the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 years. The Cougars secured a bid to the tournament by winning the Conference USA championship game. Houston goes to the tournament with the Nation's leading scorer, Aubrey Coleman, and a solid team surrounding him. The team faces the University of Maryland on Friday in the opening round of the tournament. While it's been some time since Houston has made an appearance in the NCAA tournament, we have a long history of success in the NCAA tournament, most notably in the early eighties. It was during this time, from 1982 to 1984, that Phi Slama Jama became the nickname of the University of Houston Cougars men's basketball team. The phrase was coined by a local sportswriter, Thomas Bonk, and the nickname was quickly adopted by the players and even appeared on team warm-up suits. Phi Slama Jama was coached by Guy Lewis and featured NBA Hall of Fame players Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. ``Texas' Tallest Fraternity'' was known for its dunking and explosive, fast-breaking style of play. While the 2009-2010 team has a different style of play, they're exciting to watch, and we'll be rooting for an upset on the number four seed on Friday.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the President's proposal to cancel the NASA Constellation Program, which covers the Orion Crew capsule, the Altair Lunar Lander, and the Ares I and Ares V rockets. These programs, which together comprise our human spaceflight program, were authorized in both 2005 and 2008 by Republican and Democratic Congresses. It is under the Constellation Program that NASA is currently developing new launch vehicles and spacecraft capable of traveling to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations. Not only does canceling the Constellation Program jeopardize America's leadership role in human space exploration, but it will have detrimental effects on our economy. The issue is it will take years for the commercial spaceflight industry to get up to speed to where the level of competence exists in NASA today. Our government has already invested literally years and billions of dollars in this program. We should build upon these investments and not abandon them. Our country can support the commercial spaceflight industry, but not at the expense of our human spaceflight programs. It is my hope, Madam Speaker, that this Congress will continue NASA's Constellation Program.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I'm proud to follow my colleague from North Carolina. We share his support and his prayers for our men and women serving this country. That's why it's so important tonight to be here to honor the late Member of Congress, Charlie Wilson, from east Texas. I first met Charlie Wilson in 1972, as a young State representative. He had just been elected to Congress. It was a fundraiser for him at the Intercontinental Airport, The Marriott, in Houston. I was 25-years- old and went out there, and the State senator who was just elected to Congress, and heard Charlie tell the folks stories. And this is 1972-- long before Afghanistan, long before Charlie Wilson became known as ``good-time Charlie.'' In fact, in Texas, as a State senator he's known as ``Timber Charlie'' because he represented the timber trees of east Texas. But a great Member. He was elected in 1972, like I said, to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Second District. He was elected 11 times. He did not run for reelection in 1996. In fact, he resigned in October of 1996. Charles Nesbitt Wilson was born in Trinity, Texas, where his father was an accountant for a lumber company, on June 1, 1933, in the depths of the Depression. He attended the Naval Academy in Annapolis and graduated in 1956. He served 4 years in the Navy, from 1956 to 1960, and came back to Texas, where he was elected to the State house and the State senate. Charlie Wilson died on February 10, 2010, at Lufkin Memorial Hospital in Lufkin, Texas, where he had been taken after collapsing earlier in the day and suffered from a cardiopulmonary arrest. He was pronounced dead at 12:16 p.m. Central Time. Congressman Wilson received a graveside service with full military honors at the Arlington National Cemetery on February 23, 2010. Now for some of the stories about Charlie Wilson as a friend. I'm glad my colleague from Texas, Joe Barton, is here, and Congressman Chet Edwards and Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee, because Charlie had some stories that we couldn't tell on the floor of the House. But I'm going to tell you some of the good ones. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, the former Barbara Alberstadt, and his sister, Sharon Allison. Charlie told me many times, like he told other Members, that he credited his wife Barbara with saving his life because it got him off a lot of things that he shouldn't have been on to begin with. In having seen him many times after he left Congress, Charlie was still Charlie. Charlie entered politics as a teenager. He began by running a campaign against his next-door neighbor, a city council member in Trinity, Texas. When Charlie was 13, his dog entered that neighbor's yard--a city council member--and he retaliated by mixing glass in the dog's food and causing fatal internal bleeding. Being a farmer's son, Charlie was able to get a driver's permit at age 13. And so he was going to pay that council member back. So he drove 96 people to the polls on the next election at age 13--it was mainly black citizens, African American citizens from the poor side of town--to make sure they knew what happened to his dog. That incumbent lost by 16 votes. So Charlie Wilson entered politics at 13 years of age by defeating a city council member in his neighborhood. Charlie had so many things I could tell you; wrapping his arm around us and giving us that counsel. But I think he's best known outside of Texas for being the leader in Congress during the 1980s and known for supporting Operation Cyclone, the largest-ever Central Intelligence Agency covert operation, under President Reagan's administration, by supplying military equipment, including antiaircraft weapons such as Stinger antiaircraft missiles and paramilitary officers from their Special Activities Division to the Afghan Mujahedeen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. From a few million dollars in the 1980s, his support for the resistance grew to $750 million a year by the end of the decade. I remember Charlie Wilson telling us in 1996, when he was leaving, and earlier, that we made a mistake by abandoning Afghanistan. And literally after 9/11, he came and talked to the delegation and said we made a mistake, and we're paying the price for it right now because we left Afghanistan in turmoil and ended up with the Taliban. We don't need to make that mistake again. That's why tonight I'm proud to honor Charlie Wilson in his service to our country.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1115, which honors the profound dedication and public service of Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena on the 25th anniversary of his untimely death. Mr. Camarena led an exemplary life of service to his community and his nation. As a member of the Marine Corps, fire fighter, police officer, and DEA special agent, he demonstrated an extreme passion for fighting crime and eliminating drugs to ensure the safety and well- being of our communities. He led a commendable 11-year career at the Drug Enforcement Administration earning him the distinguished Administrator's Award of Honor. In February 1985, Mr. Camarena lost his life in the line of duty. I had the opportunity to attend a memorial for Mr. Camarena and witness the impact his sacrifice made and hear from some of the many lives he touched. I am glad that twenty-five years after this tragedy, his passion and spirit still live on. His commitment to fighting drugs inspired millions of people around the world to live drug-free lives. We must continue to honor this legacy by promoting drug-free communities and supporting healthy drug-free lifestyles. Again, I would like to express my appreciation for the outstanding service Mr. Camarena provided for this nation and offer my support and deepest condolences to his wife, children, and to the entire family, friends, and former colleagues at the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, Tuesday, March 2, 2010, marked Texas Independence Day: 174 years ago, the Texas Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on- the-Brazos. This is an important day for Texas identity and patriotic Texans observe this occasion with great pride. If it were not for the Texas Primaries, I would have been on the floor, paying tribute to Texas Independence Day Tuesday. In 1824, a military dictatorship took over in Mexico abolishing the Mexican constitution. The new military dictatorship refused to provide trial by jury, freedom of religion, public education for their citizens, and allowed the confiscation of firearms, this last one being the most intolerable, particularly among Texans. The Texas Declaration of Independence states that Texas' government had been ``forcibly changed, without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism.'' It stated that because of the injustice of Santa Anna's tyrannical government, Texans were severing their connection with the Mexican nation and declaring themselves ``a free, sovereign, and independent republic . . . fully invested with all the rights and attributes'' that belong to independent nations; and a declaration that they ``fearlessly and confidently'' committed their decision to ``the Supreme Arbiter of the destinies of nations.'' The Texas Declaration of Independence was fully justified because this military dictatorship had ceased to protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people of Texas. Failure to provide these basic rights violated the sacred contract between a government and the people, and Texans did what we still do today--stand up for our rights by declaring our independence to the world. In response, the Mexican army marched to Texas waging war on the land and the people, enforcing the decrees of a military dictatorship through brute force and without any democratic legitimacy. As delegates signed the Texas Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos, General Santa Anna's army besieged independence forces at the Alamo in San Antonio. Four days after the signing, the Alamo fell with her commander Lt. Colonel William Barrett Travis, Tennessee Congressman David Crockett, and approximately 200 other Texan defenders. All these men were killed in action, a heroic sacrifice for Texan freedom. If this tragedy were not enough, later Santa Anna's army massacred over 300 unarmed Texans at Goliad on March 27. In a dramatic turnaround, Texans achieved their independence several weeks later on April 21, 1836. Roughly 900 members of the Texan army overpowered a much larger Mexican army in a surprise attack at the Battle of San Jacinto. That battle is memorialized along the San Jacinto River with the San Jacinto Monument in Texas in our district. The monument is larger than the Washington Monument here in DC. Today we give thanks to the many Texans that sacrificed for the freedom we now enjoy. God bless Texas and God bless America.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer an explanation of the three votes I missed yesterday. March 2, 2010 marked not only Texas Independence Day, but also the 2010 Texas primary, and I had previously committed to events in the district that forced me to miss my first three votes of the second session last night. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each of the following rollcall votes: Rollcall vote No. 75, on H. Res. 1072, Recognizing Louisiana State University for 150 years of service and excellence in higher education; rollcall vote No. 76, on H.R. 3820, the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2009; and rollcall vote No. 77, on H. Res. 1097, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as an original cosponsor and strong supporter of H.R. 4626 the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act. Since 1940s, the McCarran-Ferguson Act has exempted the insurance industry from all federal antitrust laws giving health insurers freedom to raise premium prices, deny coverage for preexisting conditions, and change their reimbursement rates. Right now millions of Americans are at the mercy of the health insurance companies with premium increases going up in the double digit percentage points across the country. These premium increases are not to enhance insurance plans, but to add to the extremely large profit margins of insurance companies. Seemingly, there is no end in sight to this business practice because there is little competition in the health insurance market that benefits the consumer. If this continues health insurance premiums will continue to rise as long as we allow the insurance companies to control markets. We know that competition in the marketplace leads to lower prices and more options that benefit the consumer. There is no reason why the health insurance industry, with their outrageous spending on lavish retreats and executive salaries at the expense of the consumer, should not be forced to compete for business on a level playing field and control their costs and spending on non-health care related items. Right now, health insurance costs are out of control and if individuals cannot afford health insurance they end up in emergency rooms forcing the health care system and the taxpayer to pay for their expenses. Yet, the insurance companies continue to see increased profits while making it nearly impossible for individuals to gain access to or afford a policy. H.R. 4626 is one way we can fix the monopolies the health insurance industry has over the consumer and will make insurance coverage more affordable for individuals and small businesses. This is a step in the right direction, but we desperately need health reform in this country. All individuals should have access to quality and affordable health insurance and we will not accomplish that without reforms throughout our health care system. I strongly support H.R. 4626 because insurance anti-trust reform is one piece of the pie as we move forward.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, many times we come up here and we hear my Republican colleagues say, ``Where are the jobs?'' Well, I am going to tell you where the jobs are at. In Houston, Texas, yesterday, we did an event with the Port of Houston and the industries along that channel--whether they be refineries or chemical plants or stevedoring companies or shippers. The jobs that we have through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are at the Port of Houston to the point of $98 million that came through that act to create and to expand the jobs at the Port of Houston, to make sure we can bring in those ships, make sure we can get that dredging done so they can be competitive not only with our own country's ports but also worldwide. The jobs are in our district that were awarded money to benefit Early Head Start in Houston areas Head Start; the Department of Education; Early Head Start in the Galena Park School District received funds; expanding Head Start programs in our district, hiring more teachers, but also expanding it so parents can have a child go to Head Start, and they can go to work and earn some money--including new centers, one in Channelview, Texas, we hope to open. Expanded federally qualified health clinics in our district are serving more people because of the Recovery Act.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lee College in Baytown, Texas for their 75 years of dedication to our community and commitment to excellence in education. Since 1934, Lee College has established a legacy of leadership and learning in our community by providing learning opportunities and experiences that have allowed students to excel in an ever changing environment. As a result, Lee College is one of the fastest growing community colleges in the country and has a nationally recognized Honors Program. It has furthered its accomplishments by being the first community college in the country to receive the Kresge Foundation Grant, reflecting the foundation's support for Lee College's critical role in providing access to higher education for minority and low- income students. Americans turn to community colleges to provide the education that leads to greater economic opportunity and improved quality of life. Lee College has never let our constituents down in this respect. Graduates of Lee College have become leaders in our community, in business, healthcare, education and many walks of life. I am proud to support Lee College in its continued efforts to develop first-rate affordable education in our area and know that they will continue to help build our workforce and community. I congratulate the administration, faculty, staff, and students at Lee College for all of their hard work and dedication to academic excellence.