Gabrielle Giffords

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Air Force Senior Airman Benjamin D. White, who was killed in action on June 9, 2010. Benjamin grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee and graduated from Science Hill High School in 2004. He attended East Tennessee State University before entering the Air Force in July 2006. A Pararescueman assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Benjamin belonged to a highly regarded and specialized unit known throughout the military for their skills and willingness to risk their lives to save others. The motto of Pararescue units, ``That Others May Live'', speaks to the dedication that Benjamin and his brothers in arms share. He perished doing what he loved, alongside other Air Force Rescue personnel, on a mission to save a British Soldier's life. We remember Senior Airman White and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his family. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss, nor can they offer adequate consolation. However, it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that Benjamin made a difference in the lives of many others and serves as an example of a competent and caring leader and friend that will live on in the hearts and minds of all those he touched. Senior Airman White is survived by his mother Brenda, father Tony and brother Mark. This body and this country owe Benjamin and his family our deepest gratitude, and we will today and forevermore honor and remember him and his service to our country.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Michael Paul Flores, who was killed in action on June 9, 2010. Michael was a decorated 12-year Air Force veteran. During his eight deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and twelve Air Medals. He grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he graduated from John Marshall High School before enlisting in 1997. A Pararescue Non-Commissioned Officer assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Michael belonged to a highly regarded and specialized unit known throughout the military for their skills and willingness to risk their lives to save others. The motto of Pararescue units, ``That Others May Live'', speaks to the dedication that Michael and his brothers in arms share. He perished doing what he loved alongside other Air Force Rescue personnel, on a mission to save a British Soldier's life. We remember Tech Sergeant Flores and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his family. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss, nor can they offer adequate consolation. However, it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that Michael made a difference in the lives of many others and serves as an example of a competent and caring leader and friend that will live on in the hearts and minds of all those he touched. Technical Sergeant Flores is survived by his wife Marisa, daughter Eliana and son Michael. This body and this country owe Michael and his family our deepest gratitude, and we will today and forevermore honor and remember him and his service to our country.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, in these difficult economic times, the face of retirement is changing. Today, seniors are staying on the job longer--not just because they want to, but, frankly, because they have to. That's why I'm introducing two bills that will begin to address some of the challenges that we see facing our older workforce. The Older Americans' Job Opportunities Blueprint Act expands the work opportunity tax credit already available to over a dozen specific parts of our employment pool that will now benefit employers in hiring older Americans. For the first time in our history almost 20 percent of our workforce is 55 years and older; this is very different than we've had in the past. I have also introduced the Back to School Act, which will give seniors financial assistance to take courses if they want to change their careers or to make them more competitive in the workforce. Congress, of course, focuses a lot of our attention on new entrants or future entrants into the U.S. workforce, but the reality is that seniors are putting off retirement until much longer, and it's time that we change the way our Nation thinks about retirement. I am excited to introduce these two pieces of legislation that will give older Americans a chance to continue working.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joseph Blair, who is celebrating 10 years of unselfish service and dedication to hundreds of youth through his Arizona Basketball Academy. For young people in my community, these camps are unique because they are provided at no cost to participants and are conducted by a former University of Arizona Wildcat basketball player who went on to play the game professionally. Joseph Blair started his program by traveling to various Boys & Girls Club locations, sharing basketball and life skills. The sessions evolved and have been consolidated so they now also benefit teens from Tucson Parks & Recreation and the Tucson Urban League, among others. The growth of Mr. Blair's altruistic donations of time, influence and funding are paralleled by his athletic endeavors. His global career as an international ambassador of basketball and good will was launched at the University of Arizona, where he was the 6-foot-10-inch ``big man.''As a Wildcat, he led the team to appearances at Madison Square Garden, the Great Alaskan Shoot-Out and the Maui Classic as well as games in Australia and in the 1994 NCAA Final Four. Mr. Blair was picked in the second round of the 1996 NBA draft, but opted to pursue a career in Europe, playing in France, Greece, Turkey, Russia and as a member of the famed Harlem Globetrotters. Most of his international career was in Italy where Mr. Blair played in the mountains of Biella, the seashores of Pesaro and in the city of Milan. Mr. Blair is fluently bilingual and loved the rich culture of his adopted home. While abroad, Mr. Blair earned numerous accolades and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Euroleague in 2003. His understanding of how basketball can have a positive influence on young people has gone far beyond his own experiences on the court. His empathy for youth started during these years when Mr. Blair conducted basketball clinics in Greece and created a basketball academy in Italy. Mr. Blair now is retired from basketball, but his philanthropic contributions continue. In addition to teaching athletic and life skills at his basketball academy, he is deeply involved with the Ronald McDonald House in Tucson where he and his staff provide and serve dinners for patients' families during the academy's week of camp. At the end of his camp, Mr. Blair visits young patients in the pediatric unit of University Medical Center in Tucson, bringing smiles to them through gifts and an exhibition of his basketball skills. Mr. Blair has worked and travelled in many other countries but has remained true to his roots. He is a living testimony of how to give back to one's community, not only as a big man, but as a man with a big heart. I am proud to recognize Joseph Blair on the 10th anniversary of his Arizona Basketball Academy and I join with a grateful community to commend him for his valuable contributions to the young people of Tucson and Southern Arizona. Thank you Joseph for being such a great role model and for all that you do to help our youth develop their athletic and leadership skills.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ora Mae Harn, the First Lady of Marana, Arizona, who on June 10th will be honored at the Marana Council Chambers for her work to establish the Marana Heritage Conservancy. Ora Mae Harn is the former mayor and current town historian of Marana, a fast-growing community in the northwestern corner of Arizona's 8th Congressional District. Those two titles, however, do not even come close to describing the extraordinary impact that Ora Mae has had on her hometown. Ora Mae is one of the most prominent voices and faces of Marana. She is well-known as a tireless champion for the citizens of Marana and their interests. If any one person can embody the community spirit that defines Marana, it is Ora Mae Ham. The residents of Marana acknowledge the contributions of Ora Mae every time they play a ball game, use a grill or go for a stroll at Ora Mae Harn Park. Having a park named after her is one way that her grateful community expresses appreciation for all she has done to implement the vision that has made Marana such a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. Ora Mae was a member of the Marana Town Council and served as mayor for eight years. As a public servant, her commitment and dedication to the betterment of Marana always were obvious. Under her wise leadership, the town grew from an agricultural community to the family- friendly town it is today. When Ora Mae moved to Marana in 1961, she immediately became involved in civic life. Early on she worked for the Marana Unified School District driving a school bus and cooked in the school cafeteria. She helped found and worked at the Marana Health Center and she still helps the center with fundraising to this day. She also has served as the president of the Arizona Women in Municipal Government and as a representative to the Pima Association of Governments. Ora Mae's activism went beyond the corridors of government. She applied her well-honed organizational skills to Marana's Founder's Day Committee, the Sister Cities Program, Yoem Pueblo Rehabilitation Project and the Lot Beautification Program. She also was instrumental in the formation of the Marana Food Bank. Today, in addition to serving as the town historian, Ora Mae heads the Marana Heritage Conservancy, which aims to preserve and enhance the town's past. Given her longstanding association with and deep love for Marana, there is no better person for that important job. Recently the Marana Town Council entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Marana Heritage Conservancy. This unanimous decision affirmed the credibility of the Conservancy and Ora Mae's efforts to develop an organization that will ensure that the history of Marana is preserved and shared with current and future residents of the Town. Town Manager Gilbert Davidson summed up how much this decision by the Town Council is attributable to Ora Mae's leadership. He wrote: ``Former Mayor Ora Mae Harn played a crucial role in getting the Conservancy to this point. She has been a Marana champion for many years, and it was her hard work that helped create the Conservancy. Ora Mae is one of a kind and a true inspiration. Her dedication to the Town's progress helped put Marana on the map and made us the outstanding community we are today.'' On behalf of the citizens of Marana and myself, I commend Ora Mae Harn and thank her for the more than four decades she has devoted to the Town of Marana. There is no doubt that her legacy will endure, as her town continues to grow and prosper in the decades to come. Because of her work, Marana will always remember its rich history. She is truly Marana's Heritage Ambassador.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Army Sergeant Ray Hicks, who passed away on April 24, 2010. Son of Jimmy and Aurelia Hicks of the Federated States of Micronesia, Ray was a Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer who trained at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Fort Gordon, Georgia before being assigned to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. He joined the Army in June 2006 in my district in southern Arizona and is remembered fondly by his officers, NCOs and fellow soldiers. According to his Battalion Commander, Sergeant Hicks was a devoted friend and soldier who would always lend a helping hand and who was greatly respected and admired by many. We remember Sergeant Ray Hicks and offer our deepest condolences and sincerest prayers to his family. My words cannot effectively convey the feeling of great loss nor can they offer adequate consolation. However, it is my hope that in future days, his family may take some comfort in knowing that Ray made a difference in the lives of many others and serves as an example of a competent and caring leader and friend that will live on in the hearts and minds of all those he touched. This body and this country owe Ray and his family a debt of gratitude and it is vital that we remember him and his service to his country. Sergeant Ray Hicks leaves behind his beloved wife Tressia, his daughter Anana, his parents Jimmy and Aurelia and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, yesterday I was absent and missed rollcall votes 337 and 338. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 337 and ``aye'' on rollcall 338.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chair, since 9/11, we have put an increased focus on tearing down boundaries to intel sharing and building networks that ensure critical information reaches decision makers. Information sharing on the battlefield saves lives and intelligence sharing along our border promotes national security. The longstanding barriers that built roadblocks between local law enforcement, Federal agencies and the Department of Defense are slowly crumbling. Critical information is beginning to flow but stovepipes remain. Each day in places all along the border, illegal immigrants are smuggling guns, drugs and people into the United States. And each day, the Border Patrol apprehends people here illegally from places like North Korea, Iran, and Syria. All along the border at military outposts charged with training our best and our brightest, ground forces and UAV pilots learn to identify targets, track movements and pass actionable intelligence. But stovepipes within the system continue to prevent some sharing of potentially crucial data. My amendment is focused on alleviating some of that urgent need for effective and efficient intelligence sharing. This need is recognized by our military leaders, program managers, intel analysts, and law enforcement officials. As our military trains for battle and conducts field exercises in preparation for deployments, they collect data points that can be crucial to locating and stopping smuggling lanes into our country. If only they were permitted to share that information with the people who can target these smuggling trails and shut traffickers down. That is the goal of this amendment. Whether it is soldiers from Fort Huachuca who uncover tunnel networks while learning to fly UAVs, or A-10 pilots from Davis-Monthan transiting out to the Goldwater Range, or Navy exercises on the Pacific or Gulf coasts that locate and intercept submersibles, this information must be shared and fused with the ground and airborne intelligence already flowing into se ors along the border. My amendment will permit exactly that by authorizing those who routinely conduct training operations to share with Joint Task Force North any of the critical data they collect. We know that more information, more intelligence and more resources will help stop smugglers, guns, drugs and human cargo from crossing the border and lead to captures and convictions that make our country more secure. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to address the border security crisis that is part of daily life in my southern Arizona district in Arizona's Eighth Congressional District. I am really proud to represent one of the most diverse parts of the entire country. I represent a district that is over 9,000 square miles and is one of 10 U.S.-Mexico border districts. The U.S.-Mexico border has changed a lot over the years. I am a third-generation Arizonan. I represent a lot of people in my district who are multi-generational Arizonans. After decades of building up the U.S.-Mexico border in California and in Texas, there has been a systematic funneling of illegal immigration, the flow of traffic, illegally through southern Arizona. This has become the most porous part of the U.S.-Mexico border. So today, together, my constituents live in a situation on the front lines of a national border security crisis. We live and breathe the Federal Government's failure to secure the border with Mexico. Every day my constituents are subjected to home invasions and to burglaries and to cut water lines and to graffiti, an unbelievable amount of garbage and trash that's left behind by illegal immigrants who are crossing through the border, and by people increasingly who are drug smugglers, people that are human smugglers, the cutting of fences, the threats and intimidation by armed smugglers, and the violence that they experience on their own land, on their own ranches, their own property. In this hour, I am going to talk about action that I and others have taken along the U.S.-Mexico border here in Washington. But more importantly, I am going to talk about the lives of the constituents that I represent, the people of Cochise County, the ranchers who live on the U.S.-Mexico border. It's always been my belief that if the decision-makers here in Washington, if they could hear the stories, the impact that illegal immigration has on the lives of my constituents, that there would be greater action here in Washington, the decision-makers, elected officials, people in the administration, policymakers, that they would move to greatly enhance the security along the U.S.-Mexico border. So that's what we are going to talk about tonight. I think it's important to begin this hour with the most heart- wrenching story of all, the tragic death of Robert Krentz, a fourth- generation rancher whose family has been on his land for over a hundred years. Actually, the Krentz family has had their ranch before Arizona even achieved statehood. On March 27, Rob Krentz, who was working on his ranch, was murdered by an assailant who was later tracked to the Mexico border. He and his dog were both ruthlessly murdered on his land. They were left to die. They were shot. Law enforcement officials believe that Rob was killed by a smuggler. Next to me is a photograph of Rob and his brother Phil, the two Krentz brothers. This was run on the front page of a local newspaper, the Tucson Weekly. Frankly, the image tells it all. You see the two brothers, you see them in the tack room, their hands, their boots, their lives right there represented. Reporter Leo Banks wrote the companion story in which he interviewed Rob's family and the neighbors. Banks wrote the following: ``What has to be noted first is the inevitability of what happened. Something like the Krentz murder was coming, and everybody knew it. The stories residents told this newspaper, the frustration that they feel trying to keep property and families safe in smuggler-occupied territory were like a freight train in the night. Down the tracks you see a faint light, coming closer and closer. On March 27 in Cochise County's big country a mile west of Paramore Crater, the train arrived. The aftershock has been so powerful, because the killing exploded the lie about a secure border that Washington, D.C., has been working hard to promote.'' On its front page, the Tucson Weekly asked the question, ``Will the murder of a respected Cochise County rancher change anything on our border?'' Mr. Speaker, tonight I ask the same question. Again, will the murder of Robert Krentz on March 27, a respected rancher in my district, change anything on the border? Well, it has changed, and we know that today. The President has announced the deployment of the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border. I knew Rob Krentz. I knew his family. He participated in the meetings that I convened between ranchers and the Border Patrol. He was and is-- he was a family man. He was a good neighbor. And he was a friend to all who knew him. He was described as a humanitarian, who would give water and aid to illegal immigrants who suffered from heat exhaustion and physical injuries as they trekked from Mexico across his land. He was, like fellow ranchers out in Cochise County, a straight talker. And he, like them, saw their lives changed by the increased flow of illegal immigrants and the drug smugglers. Tonight I will share additional stories about the ranchers in this area, and I will call on my colleagues to join me in demanding that our government step up and do more, the responsibility here in Washington to help protect its citizens. The safety and security and the defense of its citizens should be our primary focus in Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, the very first speech that I made on this floor, the floor of the House of Representatives in January of 2007, was precisely about securing the border. In some areas, border security has improved over time, and in many ways it has worsened. I've been proud to support legislation and appropriations that funded the border patrol and the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, as well for increases in personnel and technology. Democrats and Republicans have worked together to give the Department of Homeland Security the resources they need, and we have seen those resources in the Tucson sector. I have fought to increase funding to local law enforcement programs through the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, also known as SCAAP. When the President's budget eliminated SCAAP, I led the fight to restore the funding. And why this is important is that communities out in Cochise County and Santa Cruz County and Pinal County, as well as Pima County, they carry the brunt of this problem because the local law enforcement agents are oftentimes required to respond when a resident calls in need of help. They are responsible for a lot of the work that should be done by the Federal Government. The Federal Government has very increasingly not been able or not willing to reimburse the local law enforcement agents for the cost that they incur. We were able to augment the budget. I also worked to establish Operation Streamline. It's a program that finally reversed many years of the catch-and-release situation that we had down in southern Arizona. So instead of just apprehending illegal immigrants and then immediately deporting them back to the border to find them crossing over the next day, back and forth and back and forth, we are now in a situation that instead, we charge these individuals and we incarcerate illegal immigrants for 30 days, which is a big deterrent for someone who's trying to pass north. Last year and again this year, I introduced legislation with Congressman Sam Johnson from Texas to create a new mandatory electronic employment verification system for hiring employees. Our system would be a national employee verification system that would protect American citizens from identity theft and hold employers accountable for hiring illegal immigrants. The State of Arizona was the first State to authorize E-Verify, making it mandatory for all employers. But we've seen a lot of problems with E-Verify, plus the fact that this situation of employee verification should not be a State-by-State situation. We need to have a national solution, and that's why Congressman Sam Johnson and I have introduced legislation NEVA. Recently, with Congressman Brian Bilbray, I introduced a bill to crack down on the use of stored value cards, which drug cartels are using increasingly to launder money. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I have an example right here. This is an example of a stored value card that you can buy basically at any retailer. These stored value cards do not require any formal banking agreement. The threat assessment by the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Drug Intelligence Center, dubbed the cards an ideal money laundering instrument citing loose regulation, cardholder anonymity, and liberal limits on value reloading, withdraw, and spending on certain types of these cards. And again, you can go to a store and anyone can buy these stored value cards. We're also seeing more stored value devices like cell phones where money can be transferred, hundreds of millions of dollars, through these types of devices. According to a March 7, 2010, article in the Arizona Daily Star, the average amount of the 415 seizures on the southwest border in 2009 was $89,565, more than double the average seizure 5 years ago. That is why this legislation, the Stored Value Device Registration and Reporting Act of 2010, is so important. This is legislation that will include the stored value devices--either the cards or the cell phones--under the definition of a monetary instrument under title 31 in the United States Code. This will require cardholders to declare if they are carrying $10,000 on a stored value device to customs officers, because currently the Federal officials have absolutely no way of tracking whether or not this money is coming into the United States because individuals are not required to declare whether or not they have money on a stored value device. Mr. Speaker, at 6:20 early Sunday morning 2 weeks ago, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, detected a low, small-flying aircraft in southern Arizona near the border with Mexico. NORAD immediately scrambled two F-16s to intercept the ultralight aircraft, shadowing it for 30 minutes until that small plane returned to Mexico. This is just another example of how the drug smugglers are getting ahead of us by using these small homemade planes. They stealthily enter our country illegally. Right before that, Congressman Dean Heller and I introduced another bill that will dramatically increase the penalties for the newest way to smuggle drugs, flying them in by ultralight aircraft. These single- pilot aircraft are capable of flying low and can land and take off quickly. They are very difficult to detect. We have reports of them flying up to 200 miles into our country from Mexico. They are being used to bring drugs into our communities and represents the latest threat to border security. And if they can bring in drugs, they can also bring in other materials that can threaten our national security. I first learned about the illicit use of ultralights in a briefing by the United States Border Patrol. They told me that we needed to take action to crack down on the ultralight drug smugglers, and that's why I introduced the Ultralight Smuggling Prevention Act. Ultralights are typically used by people for sport or recreation and, as a result, are currently not categorized as an aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration. In the 2010 National Drug Assessment released by the National Drug Intelligence Center, they identified ultralights as one of the newest ways drug cartels are using to smuggle drugs into our country. And according to the CBP Air and Marine Operation Center, or AMOC, based in Riverside, California, there were 193 suspected incursions into our country and 135--make that 136 with the incursion 2 weeks ago--by ultralights from October 1 to the present time. In October of 2008, AMOC detected an unidentified northbound low- flying aircraft 12 miles west of Nogales. A CBP surveillance helicopter was launched from Tucson and the low-flying aircraft was identified as an ultralight. The pilot landed southwest of Marana, Arizona, with 223 pounds of marijuana on board where Border Patrol was waiting to transport the pilot and the marijuana to another location. In November of 2008 near San Luis, field workers arrived for work and discovered a crashed ultralight, a dead pilot, and 141 pounds of marijuana. And in December of 2008, the pilot of an ultralight collided with power lines and crashed southwest of Tucson. The pilot had been carrying, this time, 350 pounds of marijuana when he crashed. It is time for the Federal Government to get ahead of the drug traffickers. We need to pass this legislation to outmaneuver these individuals who are trying to bring drugs into our country and to do us harm, and the Ultralight Smuggling Prevention Act will amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to include ultralight aircraft under aviation smuggling provisions. There is an unintended loophole that needs to be closed. We have to get law enforcement the tools that they need to crack down on the drug smugglers. And because ultralights are not currently technically considered aircraft, they do not fall under the smuggling provision. So under my legislation, individuals caught smuggling on ultralights can be prosecuted for using the aircraft in addition to being prosecuted for the drugs in their possession. When they are convicted of this new offense, they can receive a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The bill will establish the same penalties for smuggling drugs on ultralights as for smuggling on airplanes and in automobiles. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, today is a good day for the southwest border. It's a good day for Arizona and the people of this country. President Obama has finally agreed to my repeated requests to deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border. Today, the President announced that he will authorize 1,200 National Guard troops to be deployed to the southwest border. He will also request that $500 million be included in the supplemental spending legislation for enhanced border protection and law enforcement activities. Just yesterday, I communicated with my two Senators, Senator McCain and Senator Kyl, as well. I thought it was important that the Senate stand up for border security and include the $500 million in additional funding in the war supplemental making its way through the Senate this week. The fulfillment of my request is a clear sign the administration is finally beginning to take border security seriously. I first called for immediate deployment of the National Guard after the March 27 murder of Rob Krentz. Arizonans know that more boots on the ground, even if we are starting with 1,200, I requested 3,000, but this is a start, and just because this is our first step doesn't mean it's the last step. Washington has clearly heard our message. Republican Congressman Ted Poe and I sponsored a resolution calling on the President to send the National Guard to the border many weeks ago. We did another press conference today. This goes to show this is not a Republican or a Democratic issue. This is an issue that affects all of our constituents and all Members of Congress. It's an American issue. Tonight, again, I reiterate my request to the House, the Senate, and the President to step up and do more. We need to secure our U.S.-Mexico border, period. The Tucson sector, as we see on the map here, this is my district, and this includes the Tucson sector, which goes all the way over to the farther west part of the State, has been an area that has been confronted by narcoterrorists who have killed thousands of people in Mexico and have brought their violent ways to the United States and, in particular, to our area. My district has over 100 miles of border with Mexico, and the drug smuggling and the traffic has systemically been funneled through this area. Again, as we have closed off California and Texas, we have been funneling all of this activity through southern Arizona. And, as you can see, the more urban areas, the dense part like Tucson and Sierra Vista, are away from the border. But here along the line, you see an incredible vast amount of open space. And this is where the ranchers of Cochise County live. These are individuals who have had their ranches for hundreds of years, some of them, who are not being protected. The Tucson sector, and I would like to put up a chart here of the Tucson sector of the Border Patrol, because it accounts for almost 50 percent of all the apprehensions of illegal immigrants and the drug seizures across all Border Patrol sectors in the Nation. This is to represent what we are actually dealing with in southern Arizona in my district. So as you read the chart from fiscal year 2005 up to fiscal year 2009, in fiscal year 2005, there were 439,000 apprehensions in that year. And for every individual apprehended, we believe, possibly, one, or two, or maybe three, or maybe more get away. In fiscal year 2006, 392,000 apprehensions; in fiscal year 2007, 378,000 apprehensions; in fiscal year 2008, 318,000 apprehensions; and in fiscal year 2009, 241,000 apprehensions. We have seen almost a 50 percent decrease in the number of people that are being apprehended, which is a good sign. It shows that the border security measures that we put on the border are working. But it's an interesting story when you look at seizures in terms of marijuana. In fiscal year 2005, 488,000 pounds of marijuana were seized. And then it increases. In 2006, 616,000 pounds; in 2007, 897,000 pounds; in fiscal year 2008, 816,000 pounds; and a banner year last year, fiscal year 2009, 1.2 million pounds of marijuana seized in the Tucson sector of the Border Patrol. When you look at cocaine seizures, fiscal year 2005 was an anomaly. We had 1,200 pounds seized. And then in fiscal year 2006, we had about 100 pounds; fiscal year 2007, 177 pounds; up to 2009, 524 pounds of cocaine. You see, again, a decrease in the number of illegal immigrants and an increase in the amount of drugs, marijuana and cocaine, seized in the Tucson sector of the Border Patrol. Personnel in fiscal year 2005: The United States Border Patrol had 2,339 Border Patrol agents in the Tucson sector. We have vastly increased that to fiscal year 2009. We are almost at 3,700 boots on the ground Border Patrol agents in the Tucson sector. In terms of prosecutions, in fiscal year 2007, there were 5,447 prosecutions. That number has more than tripled in fiscal year 2009, with over 17,000 prosecutions that are now taking place in the Tucson sector because of the increased and enhanced enforcement activity that we have there. Operation Streamline, I talked about this earlier, making sure that we are actually detaining for 30 days illegal immigrants who are crossing into our border illegally. As we started up a couple of years ago, this is the work of many hardworking individuals. In 2008, 9,638 prosecutions, and in fiscal year 2009 over 15,000 prosecutions with Operation Streamline. That sounds like a lot until you go back and look at the number that in 2009 we had 241,000 apprehensions. I would like to now relate in the words of my constituents what we are actually dealing with along the border. And I really believe that the ranchers out in Cochise County speak for themselves the best, and I asked them to submit stories to me of real accounts. And I have collected their letters over the days and the weeks and the years that I have served in this capacity. This is a letter that was sent to me following a community meeting that I convened at the Apache schoolhouse 4 days after Rob Krentz was murdered. The author wrote, I am angry. I had been operating at a slow simmer for some time now. Then last Saturday, when he was working on his ranch, Rob Krentz was murdered in cold blood. He was shot along with his dog. Now I am more than angry. Rob was a fourth-generation rancher in Cochise County. Friends and family, some with hunting hounds and horses and every kind of law enforcement official that we have, went into an all-out search mode for his killer, but the killer had a nearly 24-hour headstart on them by the time they found the body. They followed his tracks to the new fabulously wonderful, multibillion dollar and completely ineffective fence at the border and then into Mexico. They returned to their homes and jobs sick that they could not catch this killer before he made it back across the border. I have known Mr. Krentz and his family for many years and considered them friends. We are not close but have become friends largely because of common beliefs and issues that arise from living in these huge arid landscapes. Most of us here have what the general population would consider conservative leanings when it comes to politics. We prefer and have to take care of ourselves for the most part. We do not have the option of calling for help in emergencies much of the time because we do not have phones, radios, or cell service when we are out in the landscape or on isolated roads. When you live here you have to be prepared to handle your own emergencies. It is expected that may include a snake bite, a car wreck on an isolated stretch of the highway, a neighbor with car trouble. That sort of thing. But for the last 4 years or so, that has included illegals that carry fully automatic weapons. That is a little tougher to prepare for, especially when official response time is 1 to 4 hours and the official that does respond is usually alone and only allowed to carry a measly pistol to respond with. Two years ago a Bureau of Land Management fire crew was pulled off a fire when a fire they fought flushed 17 illegals out of a canyon, and they were all carrying automatic weapons. Most of us have guns, as did Rob Krentz. His was found in a scabbard on his Polaris Ranger where they found his body. The people who killed him, according to a garbled radio message his brother received, appeared to be hurt and needed help. That bit of acting may explain why Rob did not have his gun out and ready to use. Just the day before Rob had helped Border Patrol officials with a drug bust on his ranch. More than 300 pounds of marijuana was confiscated. Was the killer one of the thwarted smugglers seeking revenge? We do not know and probably never will. The people that I represent have told in person and on phone and in emails that this is the sort of situation that they are facing on their ranches. Like the story of Kelly Kimbro and the Glenn family. They have the Malpai Ranch, very, very close to where Rob Krentz' ranch is. On May 14 of this year, a couple of nights ago, a half-mile east of Airport Road in Douglas, 10 of the concrete filled 6-inch steel casings that serve as uprights on the border fence were cut off at the ground with cutting torches and that piece of fence removed for a drive-through. Our friend was called down to go down there yesterday with his boom truck and try to hoist it back into place. I know how to use a cutting torch. When you try to cut into something filled with concrete, it is nasty and dangerous and very hard work. My point is that it would have had to take hours or days to do this. It is on the border road, one- half mile from Douglas. If the border was being patrolled . . . one more instance when it is not. This is no longer a laughing matter. What the heck is going on? Why did this have to happen?'' This is a story from May 16. This is a story from Wendy Glenn: ``Last summer, our well on the border had a solar panel stolen from it right between the border road and Geronimo Trail Road. The control box, float and wire were taken also. It was taken and carried out by a fellow over a mile on the border road before he went into Mexico. The fellow had to climb up and unbolt it and let it down to the ground and then had to carry it off. Surely he had to have been seen by some Border Patrol people as all this happened.'' Other reports coming from Susan and Louis Pope on May 18: ``Last night, there was a large group that crossed our lower place on the State line between Arizona and New Mexico. As far as we know, they are on their way north. Tonight, we had the illegals talking on the radio; they're making plans about tomorrow morning. ``There are at least two groups coming up the west side of the Pelloncillos Mountains. There are also groups on the south end of the Chiricahuas.'' Here is an email from May 19: ``Today resulted in recovering several bundles of dope, but since air support was not available, the mules got away. Just as soon as the Border Patrol left the area, the spotter was on the radio again guiding and gathering the group back together. Two loads of dope came down the highway. They crossed out of Arizona into New Mexico, and the Hidalgo County Sheriffs Department caught one and the other got away. We understand that the Lordsburg Border Patrol will get two helicopters next week from the New Mexico National Guard, but they cannot cross into Arizona to help with the Border Patrol here. ``Now guess where all the illegals will wind up? Yes, you are right, in our back yards. We want everyone to know that there is not a road on the border in the Pelloncillos Mountains. The horse patrol has a vital part in helping stop the crossers, but air support is absolutely critical.'' Another email from May 19: ``It is 9 p.m., Sunday, May 19. I just found out that there are no night scopes available for the area from the New Mexico line to Douglas, 50 miles, tonight. Just one mobile surveillance system in New Mexico, another mobile surveillance system five miles north of Douglas, and one MSS, as well, close to the border, about 15 miles east of Douglas. The Border Patrol is just about blind tonight. There are supposed to be four units, but not tonight. We need to get these people some help.'' I'd like to show an illustration of, again, what some of the situation looks like in terms of having illegal immigrants that are coming into the area. The following email comes from the Stroller family, who are winter visitors in my district. Given the dangers that they now face on their land in Arizona, they have made the difficult decision of not returning to our State. This is from May 18: ``Hello, friends. It is with great regret that we've decided to leave our little Arizona winter retreat. It has been with much thought that we have decided not to return. We worry about you, our friends, and wish that you had the flexibility that we have to not be there during this dangerous time. ``Whether you are fearful for your safety or not so much is of little consequence as to how we are feeling. We worried when hunting this winter or just walking next door on our 160 acres, will we be confronted by a camp of illegals? What will we do with one shotgun, one camera, and four dogs? Will Louis, that just dashed out of the doggy door at midnight barking madly, will he come back, or will we find him in the morning with a bullet in his head? ``Guess what we're trying to say to you is we don't want to do this anymore. It isn't worth the possible consequences. We will miss the magnificent views, but even more, we will really miss you. Thank you for the wonderful years.'' Another story that I heard at the Apache Schoolhouse, the ranchers and other residents of this beautiful part of the country have seen terrible changes over the past few years, and they have been calling on their government to take action to protect them and to finally secure the border. Their plea was well summarized in a letter that was recently personally delivered to the Governor of Arizona and to us, the congressional delegation. In the email he said: ``Over the past 8 years, we have experienced many break-ins, burglaries, and attempted home invasions. Two of the attempted home invasions occurred just last month.'' He says: ``As someone who actually lives on the U.S.-Mexico border, I am here today to share with you a partial account of my family's experiences living near the Arizona-Mexico border for the past 10 years. We are a fifth-generation Arizona ranching family. By no means is this account all inclusive, but is intended to give you an understanding of the mayhem and the trepidation we are going through every single day on the borderlands. ``My words are offered to you in good faith and are not intended to be inflammatory toward any culture, nationality, group, or agency, but I refuse to weave political correctness into their meaning, which has so far distracted from the important work of credibly securing our borders first for the citizens of Arizona and the United States. ``Border security has been promised for so many times over the past 30 years without delivering security and safety to our families. These are my opinions on the matter. The U.S.-Mexico border is out of control and has been for a very long time. We laugh out loud when we hear the politicians claim that the border is more secure. This uninformed view is a political fairytale. People in Washington making these statements don't live here. And if they did, they would have a far more different view from the remedial policies which need to be immediately actioned on our and the country's behalf to secure the Arizona-Mexico international boundary. ``Our small ranch is located adjacent to the Chiricahuas National Wilderness. Presently, I'm sitting in my new ranch house, which looks more like a fortress than a home. Day and night we suffer home invasions, burglaries, multi-thousand-acre fires, some as large as 20,000 acres, ranching infrastructure and personal property destruction perpetrated by both illegal aliens and drug smugglers. They break into our homes and ranches, they steal jewelry and firearms, ammunition, money, small cartable electronics to fence in U.S. interior cities and Mexico, maliciously vandalize our property. They destroy our livestock and so on. ``In 8 years, our home has suffered over 15 illegal alien and smuggling burglaries and four attempted home invasions; intolerable when you consider that I'm here most of the time. I gave up filing police reports. Why bother? ``The latest attempted home invasion occurred last Saturday when we were invaded in the early morning by an illegal alien and an accomplice while my wife was asleep. The perpetrators were about to enter and burglarize our house and who knows what else. They were later caught by our hardworking Border Patrol and the Cochise County sheriff. We understand their backpacks were full of stolen items from burglarized homes in Portal, and some, if not all, had prior arrest records. ``Last month, another smuggler entered our home and confronted my wife in her utility room before he was run off. And as I write this account, the Border Patrol and the Cochise County Sheriff's Department are on the mountain searching for several groups of illegal aliens. ``How many American citizens would tolerate a situation like the ones that we experience every single day? Why are we not able to live in safety and in security in our own homes like the rest of you in Tucson and in Phoenix and in Washington, D.C.? ``Many of the homes and ranches in the Portal area stretching to Douglas have been burglarized, vandalized, and invaded by illegals. No one, and I mean no one, dare leave their homes unprotected for longer than a couple of hours at a time. Can you imagine worrying about leaving your home to attend your son's out-of-state wedding for fear it is going to be burglarized and trashed upon your return? Not a pretty picture missing such important parts of your family's lives. ``As I read my statement upon a risk of attending this meeting, I wonder what I will find or face upon my return to our ranch later this evening. There are hundreds of these people illegally crossing through our valleys 24/7. It is a very scary situation when they're kicking in your door and the sheriff is located over 70 miles away and the Border Patrol is undermanned and under-equipped, and they can't respond in a timely basis to your call; when they're pursuing multiple illegal immigrant groups through the mountains 24 hours a day--yes, a very dangerous job we've asked them to do. ``From personal experience, illegal immigrants and smugglers have absolutely no fear of law enforcement, Border Patrol, nor State or Federal officials; in fact, U.S. citizens seem to be held to a higher enforcement and prosecutorial standard than illegal immigrants arrested for the same criminal activity. You will appreciate the cynicism this creates for border residents when the same illegal aliens and smugglers are caught time and time again after being released back into Mexico. If apprehended, one of the first questions they often ask the Border Patrol is: ``Which State am I in--the Ninth Circuit Court or New Mexico?'' They sure hope it's Arizona. The large numbers of undetected illegal aliens and north-southbound smugglers using our vast, remote desert mountain country are never counted in numbers Washington is using. You can't count what you can't catch, and if Border Patrol apprehends 300,000 annually in the Tucson sector alone or if collectively they catch one in four, maybe over 800,000 or 850,000 have entered into the country illegally. I must ask if this is really a border which has never been more secure. I don't think so, and neither do the majority of the American people. This letter goes on. It talks about what's happening with the Border Patrol. Yes, it's true that we've had a lot of press on this, but unfortunately, up until today, we have not had a lot of action. The Arizona Cattle Growers have put together an 18-point border security plan. It's available on my congressional Web site. It's available on the Arizona Cattle Growers' Web site. It mandates that crossing the border illegally the first time is a felony charge for breaking into our country and that it prevents, for any reason, one from gaining U.S. citizenship or residency. The individual ends by saying, ``For those of you who worry about `militarizing the border,' I can only say you're too late.'' There are a couple of additional stories, one being of Ann and Paul Palmer. They say here, ``Let me give you yet another perspective from a farming family.'' On May 21 of this year, our confidence in the sheriff's department and in the Border Patrol is right at 0 percent. Within the last 8 months, we've had two different vans abandoned on our farm. The first time, they were running from the sheriff's department. On that occasion, the van ran through several fences and way out into a field of growing corn before it got stuck in the mud. At that point, the fugitives were on foot. The sheriff's department and Border Patrol were too scared to go into the cornfield to get them. They said they didn't feel safe leaving their vehicles and looking for people in the dark. So they left. This all happened 200 yards from our homes. It's plain to me the only protection for our families comes from my son and I. The following day, my son and I had to get the vehicle out of the field. Then when the sheriff's department did come back in the daylight, they gave it a cursory inspection. They told us that we should check to see that there was no dope before we pulled it out. Needless to say, this caused some serious economic damage to our having this vehicle. I mean, not only was that crop destroyed in that area, but there were deep ruts in the field and the labor and the materials to rebuild the fences. The second occasion was after harvest. Many of us pasture cattle on our cornstalks, so there are large numbers of cattle in the cornfields. Late one night, our neighbor called, informing us that a van had run through several of his gates and was coming our way. He had three separate herds of 500 head, and we had one herd of 600 head of cattle that could have all been mixed up had our neighbor not been on the ball. That would have been a several-day sorting job. We got the van stopped before it went through the last fence. The people jumped out and ran. By the time the sheriff's deputy, who had been lost, got there, we had tracked the people and knew which way they were going. This time, the sheriff's department said that, if we could give them the van--a 1977 Chevrolet--they would pursue them, and if not, they would not. I pointed out, by that time, that, if they got a record, the illegals would be gone. The sheriff's department left. The Border Patrol was supposedly coming with a tracker, but never showed up. There was no interest at all in apprehending these individuals, and, once again, labor and materials to rebuild the fences were expended by me and my family. I could go on and on, but you get the point, he says. From our standpoint, there is no will to do anything about the problem. The Border Patrol should be on the border, not 40 or 50 miles north of the border. Willcox recently got a new Border Patrol station. That's 80 miles north of the border. They keep horses near the Willcox station. What are they doing so far north? The horse patrol comes in after a part of a day because they don't have enough horses to ride all day. A private company or an individual simply cannot operate as efficiently as Border Patrol and stay in this business. Throwing more money at a poorly laid-out plan just means that you have a more expensive poor plan. Here is another story by Ruth Cowan, a rancher near Tombstone, Arizona. This account took place on June 7. Fence run through. June 9, fence run through and cattle on the road. June 10, 20 arrests. June 13, fence run through and 20 arrests. June 14, 60 arrests. June 15, fence hit and two runners. She talks about calls about cattle on the road both day and night, personal damage in 1 day, including three $150 gates that were run through, a float broken off losing 10,000 gallons of water in one spot and a faucet I installed to keep them from breaking the floats left open and the submersible pump pumping our precious desert water on the ground all night, two gates left open and my bulls were gone. Some additional complaints. My travel trailer has been broken into, my truck stolen, and the one they couldn't steal, which is a diesel, I had to get repaired. My insurance rates have gone up. Field days for the most requested field trip in Douglas, Arizona, cancelled due to discarded pornography, weapons, feminine hygiene products, trash, and associated health issues. I believe we have an image of that. The economic damage to my rangeland is devastating. Rangeland is being trampled by thousands upon thousands of illegals. Native vegetation can't grow. Here we have images of the debris. Lost income from cattle because they're now wild, and buyers give less. My new $2,400 bull ate a plastic sack and died 4 days later. Disease from my neighbor's cattle and broken fences resulted in my animals' aborting their calves, and then the cows sold at half price. I can't even get anyone to come look at the ranch because it's south of I-10. Invasive weeds have been introduced. One seed pod can produce over 200 seeds and then hang on the clothing and blankets of individuals who are smuggling through. They can fall off vehicles if they travel off road. On State trust land, I have been informed that it is the landowner's/lessee's responsibility to control these weeds that are being brought in. The deer herds on my ranch have decreased as I have three drug and illegal routes splitting herds and sportsmen very angry because I have totally locked off my private property in an attempt to slow the traffic. All the trash left behind washes downstream to lower watershed into the bird sanctuary. The Clean Water Act directs businessowners to decrease nonpoint source pollution. Yet this trash problem I have no control over. I had nine at-risk youth camps with counselors for 5 days out to pick up the garbage. Within 2 weeks, it was right back there. Who paid for this? The American taxpayer. We have sent our men and women all over the world to protect others, and yet the same government refuses to protect my rights as a U.S. citizen. This is a story from John Ladd. The Ladd family is a very well-known ranching family in southern Arizona. John Ladd has a ranch along the border right where some new fences have been constructed. John tells me that he can ride for hours along the fence without seeing a single Border Patrol agent. He has shown us where smugglers have cut through the new steel fence and have used a ramp to drive their loads of drugs up and over the fence. Imagine that. He has filmed scores of people crossing illegally through his land, and reports that there has been no less than 49 groups visible from his kitchen window last year. The last group was seen just a few days ago. The murder of Rob Krentz has brought a lot of attention to the border in Cochise County, but it is important to note that the smugglers' impact on ranchers north of the border and into Pima County is a very unique situation. A couple of additional stories. This was sent to me by the Coping family, Robert and Cynthia. They wrote, My husband, Robert, and I purchased our ranch northwest of Marana, Arizona, in 1995. In 2000, President Clinton proclaimed the Ironwood Forest National Monument, which now surrounds our ranch. We spend six nights a week there, just the two of us. With the remoteness and animals needing daily care, we sometimes travel separately and leave just one of us alone on the ranch. Our nearest neighbor to the northeast is La Osa Ranch, 8 miles away. To the south, the Silver Bell Mine headquarters is about 10 miles distant. To the southwest, Queens Well is about 25 miles. To the west is the Jet Ray Ranch about 10 miles away. This is a part of the district that is not directly on the border, but it is impacted. We have no cellular telephone service at our ranch even though our provider, Verizon, advertises that we get coverage there. When we need to make a call, I have to get in my truck and drive 5 miles just to get a call to connect. Our neighbor owns the grazing lease formerly attached to our deeded property. His leases surround our property. The Tohono O'Odham Nation borders the west boundary of his allotments, and the fence line is 10 miles west of our house. From 1995 to 2003, the biggest problem we had with illegal immigration was plumbing being destroyed and valves being left open at water tanks so that some 30,000 gallons of water would be drained out onto the ground. This can be deadly to cattle. It can drain entire wells. Illegal vehicle crossing from the Nation to the Ironwood monument started becoming problematic and created environmental havoc in about 2003. Vehicles heavily overloaded with people began parading past our house at all hours of the night--pristine areas filled with trash, tremendous environmental damage from cross-country motorized traffic. The BLM has posted accountings of the cleanup costs online. With the murder of Rob Krentz, our compassion for illegal immigrants in distress has been compromised by our fear for our own lives. This area is very deadly, he goes on. Chuck is out numerous times riding horseback in the desert. I have come across trees with women's underwear hanging from them. The threat to women that are crossing illegally as well is something that is not heavily reported, but we know it happens. Drug smugglers come up north through the reservation. They steal horses, in this case, two horses from different ranches on the reservations. Then they travel north of a wash located about a mile west of our house. They pass under a loose fence and then head north, cutting a hole in the county ranch boundary fence. Those were the early days of what now is major vehicular traffic and drug smuggling through the Tohono O'odham Nation, of which the entire eastern fence line runs across the western boundaries of now what is the Ironwood National Forest. This individual writes that the smugglers are now using stolen vehicles instead of stolen horses. Mr. Speaker, I bring these stories forward, they are real stories, they are from real constituents, they live in my district, to emphasize to Members of Congress, members of the administration and to the general public the real problems that we are having down in southern Arizona. Yes, it is true that we have increased the amount of resources in urban areas. We have more fencing. We have more boots on the ground. We have more surveillance. But out in the rural part, where the land is vastly wide open, there is still a major problem. Before the community meeting that we had in Apache, I met with a representative group of ranchers and heard many of these stories directly told to me. They also had some commonsense recommendations for us, and these were recommendations that I included in two letters to the President of the United States and to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. At that time, I called for the immediate deployment of the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, and I asked that five additional measures be taken to address the increased amount of violence and to assure the residents that we would step up to provide the protection that they are entitled to receive from the Federal Government. I urged the President and the Secretary to deploy more Border Patrol agents. I looked at the budget being proposed by the administration to cut agents, and that was absolutely wrong. Not only do we not need to cut, we need to increase Border Patrol agents. We also need to include more horse patrol, and I am very pleased that the Tucson sector two weeks ago graduated another recent class of horse patrol, because, as you can see from these images, in some of these areas there are no roads. It is very difficult to access the remotest part of the desert, and horse patrol is the only way. I also urged the President and Secretary Napolitano to establish Border Patrol forward-operated bases in the San Bernardino Valley, again the most remote part of southern Arizona, right there on the border. As I was driving to that meeting, I was on the phone trying to communicate with people here in Washington to find that my cell phone service was completely cut out. Miles before I was even able to arrive at Apache, I found there was no cell phone service. So I have urged the President and the Department of Homeland Security to improve telecommunications among law enforcement agencies and among residents as well. We need more cell phone towers. We need to know the costs of the cell phone towers. We are working to get that information. And then I had submitted funding requests to make sure we can handle the cost of those cell phone towers. We also need to increase the deployment of mobile surveillance systems. I understand we have three new mobile surveillance systems coming to the Tucson sector today redeployed from other areas. That is a good first step, but, frankly, we need more. I also asked to form a joint agency task force to coordinate local border security efforts, because what we see happening oftentimes, for example, during an investigation, and I talked about some of the criminal activities that have been reported in my area, you will have a local law enforcement agent come out and do the initial investigation, and then at that point there is a handoff. So many different entities end up handling that case that we need to have a joint agency task force to coordinate what is happening. I have also since that time submitted a request for supplemental funding to increase personnel and technology on the border. I was joined by 52 other Members of the House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans, in making that request. Again, yesterday I wrote to the two Arizona Senators asking that they support this request in the United States Senate. We know what we must do to secure the border. The people of Cochise County and the residents of southern Arizona know exactly what they need. So the time for talk is over. The people that I represent, the people that are American citizens that live on the front lines of this problem, they deserve an answer. We need to stop the drug cartels and the violence that they bring, and this will in fact not just help my constituents, but help everyone across the country. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about another story from another constituent, Peggy Davis. She writes here, My name is Peggy Davis. My husband Fred and I own a cattle ranch between Tombstone and Elfrida on Davis Road. As you can probably assume by the name of the road, Fred's family has been ranching this area for a long time. Our grandchildren are the fifth generation to live on this ranch. I have personally lived along the border for 37 years. I moved to southern Arizona when Fred and I were married in 1972. Up until that time, I had never encountered an illegal immigrant or even heard of the Border Patrol. It didn't seem like something that citizens were overly concerned about. On our ranch, we encountered immigrants occasionally, but usually they walked openly up to our home and asked for work or something to eat. I always fed them. I gave them water, sometimes medicine, and often gave them a few dollars for doing a small job for that day. I always treated them with dignity and compassion, as did most people who lived in that area. In the 1990s, something drastically changed. I began to notice that many of the immigrants I encountered were traveling in large groups and often had an attitude that left me feeling uneasy. She says, today I still provide water for them when asked, but I never give food or medicine, nor do I give them work. To do that would encourage larger numbers to walk through my land, leaving their trash and threatening me and my family. My husband is away from home quite often for several weeks at a time, leaving me home alone. In fact, he couldn't be here today because he is gone now working to supplement ranching income. This is necessary due in large part to the exorbitant costs to repair our land, our water tanks, our fences damaged by immigrants daily. Everyone I know experiences the same loss of value to their land and to their livestock. Peggy writes, I used to go for walks for exercise. I no longer feel safe doing that. I am armed at all times, she writes. I can't even feed my animals without having a firearm. And this is not unique. Most of the ranch women that I know that live in this area know how to use a gun and would use it to protect our families, make no mistake. She says, I don't ever want to have to use it. In fact, the mere thought of making me use it gives me anxiety beyond words. But what choice do I really have? I could call 911, but we all know by the time they would actually get to me, it would be likely too late. She says, I know most of the people that live here, and literally all of the people I know who live along the border area have at least one personal story they could tell where they were threatened or their animals or their property damaged. To go into all of them would take days or weeks. But this is time-sensitive. We are being invaded now, Peggy says, and something has to be done immediately. However, I do feel compelled to briefly tell you, when our daughter Marlo was in college, she was home alone. Fred and I were both in Texas on business. Marlo had gone to the barn one evening to feed our horses, and after coming back to the house and locking our doors, she heard our dogs barking in a way that alerted her that someone was nearby. When she looked out the window, she saw a man standing right outside. She noticed that he was holding one arm behind his back, so instead of opening the door, she merely cracked the window a bit so she could ask what he wanted. He told her that he wanted her to give him a ride into town. He said that he had a friend with him who was hurt and needed medical attention. When my daughter told him that she couldn't give him a ride, he got angry. He still kept his arm behind his back. He told her to open the door. And when she refused, he told her that he knew that she was home alone. She replied that she wasn't alone, that her dad was on the ranch and would be back at any minute. Apparently he believed her, fortunately, and left. When the Sheriff's Department arrived about 30 minutes later, they did a search on the premises and they found a large butcher knife missing from the butcher block in our guest house. The man's attitude and words were confrontational, and I truly believe that he meant her harm but was convinced that she really wasn't home alone. The current administration has claimed that the border is secure. If all of us here gathered up all of the trash, included the hypodermic needles, the toilet paper, the dirty diapers, the countless other items detrimental to our health, and took it here to Washington, D.C., and put it on their front yard at the White House, perhaps then the President would conclude that the border is indeed not secure. My husband and I have talked at length with friends, with neighbors, law enforcement, Border Patrol, Congressmen and Senators over the years about this problem. Rob Krentz, Peggy writes, was a personal friend of mine. He was a kind and compassionate man, as evidenced by his final act as a citizen of our country. He stopped to help someone who he thought was in need, and he got repaid for his kindness by losing his life. Please don't allow his life to be lost in vain, but help us convince the government that we must solve the immigration problem with swift and firm action. I do admit that many of these people are desperate, but so are we. When you mix desperation and fear on both sides, you create a volatile situation where violence endures. Mr. Speaker, these are stories from the people that I represent who feel that their government, frankly, has abandoned them. They're angry and they're frustrated. I'm angry; I'm frustrated. We need action, and we need it now. We can spend billions of dollars on conflicts in other countries, billions of dollars to secure other borders across the world to protect other citizens from other countries in places and far-off lands. But if this Congress is truly the people's House, then we must listen to the people. And they are asking for our attention, and they are calling out for help. Mr. Speaker, I show you a sign here. It's a photograph of the Forest Service. It's a warning sign that cautions the citizens of southern Arizona. It's an official sign to warn hikers of the dangers of the smugglers on public land. When I think about citizens that have to see signs like this on their property, of being warned about the possibility of the violence, of the destruction, of the threats--it says: ``Caution, smuggling activity is common in this area because of the proximity to the international border. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.'' And then there's information in case of emergency. I would suggest that the Federal Government puts up these signs and the Federal Government should actually do something about the problem. And so I ask my colleagues to join with me for once and for all to take the necessary steps that we need to take. I applaud the administration today for taking action. The deployment of the National Guard to our U.S.-Mexico border is a first start. The $500 million in supplemental funding to the U.S.-Mexico border will be greatly welcomed. But we have no greater responsibility than to carry out the duty of protecting our citizens. Hence, Mr. Speaker, I believe that we should do more. This duty is embedded in the oath that each one of us took when we were sworn into this great institution. In closing, Mr. Speaker, again, I'd like to reference Rob Krentz; his brother, Phil Krentz; the Krentz family--my constituents, southern Arizonans, U.S. citizens. Rob Krentz is no longer with us for doing nothing more than being on his own land. The Federal Government has to take responsibility for the safety and security of its citizens, first and foremost. This is a great institution. The United States Congress can achieve great things. It is important that we focus our national security efforts, first and foremost, on homeland security, and that means border security and not allowing a situation like the tragic murder of Rob Krentz to ever occur again, to not allow the continued stories that we hear of the destruction along the U.S.-Mexico border, to not allow that to continue.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, which is holding its 15th annual ``One More Victory, Ara!'' event in Tucson, Arizona on May 14 and 15. The Foundation was established by in 1994 by Cindy and Mike Parseghian after three of their four children were diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Type C disease. It is named for the children's grandfather, Ara Parseghian. Niemann-Pick Type C disease is a genetic, neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive deterioration of the nervous system. It affects children by interfering with their ability to metabolize cholesterol. This metabolic disorder results in neurological problems that are ultimately fatal. Tragically, Mike and Cindy's three children, Michael, Marcia and Christa lost their lives to Niemann-Pick Type C disease. But as Cindy, has said, ``they have given us a legacy of hope.'' Cindy, Mike and their extended family has not been defeated by the deaths of their children. With incredible determination and hope they have devoted themselves to finding a way to conquer this disease. Great progress has been made through research supported by the Foundation. Scientists funded by the Foundation have identified the gene responsible for causing NP-C. This discovery has played a major role in moving Niemann-Pick research to a new and encouraging level. On her desk, Cindy Parseghian keeps a quote by physicist, inventor and rocketry pioneer Robert H. Goddard: ``The dream of yesterday is the hope of today . . . and the reality of tomorrow.'' Those dreams and hopes are carried forward by the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, which has raised more than $33 million. That money has been used to fund more than 75 research projects, which the Parseghian family believes will prevent other families from having to lose a child to this disease. The family's cause has become our community's cause and this weekend hundreds of people will gather to once again show their support for the Foundation and its critical mission. The Foundation is a labor of love for the Parseghian family and for many others but we all know that the hardest worker, the force behind the Foundation, is Cindy Parseghian. While Cindy would not want to be singled out for all that she has done, we do so today on behalf of a grateful community and in recognition of her dedication to the work of the Foundation over the past 15 years. I commend the Parseghian family for their courageous fight on behalf of children across our country and the world. The fight has been difficult but, with the progress they have made, the final victory is within sight.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge President Barack Obama to improve security on our southern border by immediately deploying the National Guard. On March 27, Rob Krentz, whose family has been ranching along the U.S.-Mexico border for over 100 years, was tragically murdered, murdered on his own land. Three days later, I wrote to the President and asked him to send back the National Guard to protect our citizens who live and work along the border. I renewed that request 2 weeks ago and again last week. Deployment of the National Guard is an essential first step in reassuring border residents of our commitment to their safety and security. The people that I represent do not believe that the Federal Government has heard their pleas, and they grow worse and worse every single day. Much has been done to improve border security, but our border is not yet secure, contrary to whatever people say. Drug cartel violence increasingly threatens the lives of our citizens; and on behalf of the thousands of Americans who live in the troubled sections of the U.S.-Mexico border but particularly in southern Arizona, I ask again that the President immediately deploy the National Guard. The first responsibility of the government is to ensure the safety of its citizens, and we must take action.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Chair, first I would like to congratulate Chairman Gordon and also Ranking Member Hall for this legislation. Three years ago, this body recognized the importance that science and technology play on our 21st century workforce, and we took action by passing the America COMPETES Act of 2007. We heeded the warnings from the National Academies' report, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm.'' American students were falling behind in science and mathematics, and with their falling grades went our ability to remain competitive in this new global economy. That's why I offered amendments 3 years ago to help students from low-income and rural parts of America to get the support they need to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. But we're not through the woods yet. Today we renew our commitment by maintaining America's leadership by reauthorizing this legislation. This bipartisan bill is exactly the sort this Congress should be focusing on. It's about the economy; it's about jobs; it's about innovation; and it's about preparing for tomorrow. I want to take a moment to mention a particular component of this legislation which I am particularly proud to support. Earlier this year, I introduced the 21st Century Graduate STEM Education Act which is now incorporated into this legislation. We need to do everything we can to ensure that our students at every level have the best STEM education in the world so that they can enter the workforce and thrive. The grants created by this act will help equip graduate students in the STEM fields with the skills and knowledge for careers so that they can be successful outside of the traditional academic track. We need to see more engineers. We need to see more mathematicians. We need to see more scientists. We need to see more Ph.D.- and master's- level scientists and engineers teaching in schools, providing the next generation of students with a solid foundation in math and science.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Chair, I rise today to proudly support the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act. Energy efficiency saves fuel, electricity, and it helps Americans to save money. However, embracing energy efficiency at home isn't just about energy or money. It improves the comfort and quality of life that people experience every day. It actually makes homes better places to live. I support this bill because it creates jobs in all 50 States, which is a priority of this Congress. Whether you live in sunny Arizona, like myself, or icy Alaska, people will use their local installers to make these upgrades to their homes. I would like to thank the committee for accepting my amendment, which directs the Secretary of Energy to provide need-based scholarships for training programs to get Gold Star certification. To take full advantage of the Home Star program, we need to grow a workforce that can implement these programs in every State and in any home. The scholarships made possible by my amendment will allow these individuals looking for jobs to get the training that they need so that Americans can fully realize the full benefit of the Home Star program. Training a new generation of skilled workers is a smart investment that will pay dividends in the future. This bill is about jobs. It's also about training the smart workforce, and it's about saving resources and money for American families at this critical time. That is why I am so proud to support the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Chairman, as one of the sponsors of this amendment, and a strong advocate for defense acquisition reform, I rise today in support of the amendment and urge its passage. The amendment requires the Department of Defense to make energy efficiency a consideration in buying and developing new weapons systems and new equipment for the military. This is a smart amendment from a green technology standpoint. But let me also stress that this is not just about being green. First and foremost, platform efficiency is a national security issue. Our military's use of fuel and electricity has intertwining impacts on our greater national security. A 2007 Army report cites 170 servicemembers killed transporting fuel or guarding fuel convoys. Requiring the department to examine how well current and new systems use that precious commodity will help us reduce consumption, a good green tech benefit, but also saving lives of our military, the overarching national security benefit. In terms of electricity usage, most of our military bases' critical loads are dependent upon the fragile national grid system that is underpinned by a 60 percent dependence on foreign oil.

Ms. GIFFORDS. This represents a single point of possible failure for our most important military assets. The requirement that this amendment puts in place will mean we must take into account the stresses placed upon the grid and how we can reduce those to enhance the security of our defense infrastructure. By considering the use of on-site renewable generation, like the array that will be installed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in my district, we can better secure our base critical infrastructure against possible attack. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and vote for the underlying bill. I commend Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for bringing this to the floor and Congressmen Andrews and Conaway for their hard work putting it together.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans, also known as CEDO--El Centro de Estudios de Desiertos y Oceanos. On May 1 2010, CEDO celebrates 30 years of exploring and helping to protect the creatures, habitats and cultures of the Sonoran Desert and the Sea of Cortez. Its educational and research facility is located on the Sea of Cortez in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico, where students and visitors alike are exposed to its essential work to preserve this fragile ecosystem. CEDO was envisioned in 1975 when Peggy Turk Boyer, CEDO's executive director, first visited Puerto Penasco with professors John Hendrickson and Don Thomson of the University of Arizona's Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, as part of the University of Arizona's marine biology program. CEDO opened its doors in 1980. Since then, thousands of people have participated in CEDO's research, education and conservation programs. CEDO's biological field station annually provides hands-on marine studies to hundreds of university students and researchers. CEDO also has expanded its outreach by offering school field trips, eco adventures, summer camps for young marine biologists and community education programs. Gus, a 13 year old who spent time at CEDO, spoke for many others who have enjoyed the incredible opportunities that are available there. Gus wrote ``in one small trip, I experienced a colossal adventure. It's not every day that you get to do something as magical as I was able to do, but luckily, CEDO is dedicated to bringing people closer to nature and all of its creatures. I have gained a new determination to protect the beauty of Puerto Penasco and its unique environment. I believe that ordinary people, such as you and me, are the key to conserving the Sea of Cortez's irreplaceable natural wonder. Together, we can save the Sea. Thank you CEDO for your wonderful contributions to conservation.'' The CEDO vision is that all residents and visitors to the Northern Gulf understand, appreciate and participate in sustainable activities and actions that support a healthy, thriving and productive ecosystem. CEDO seeks to learn about the region through research, share the fruits of that research through educational activities and then use this knowledge to bring people together to help protect this unique and irreplaceable ecosystem. Today, CEDO is working with researchers and fishermen in the Sea of Cortez to protect the Vaquita porpoise--the world's smallest and most endangered marine mammal species. Only about 200 Vaquitas remain--down two-thirds from a decade ago. CEDO is helping design a new type of net that will protect the Vaquitas and works with fishermen so they understand how they can ply their trade without harming the few remaining Vaquitas. The research and educational efforts of the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans have substantially improved the biological health and the sustainability of the Sea of Cortez. CEDO also understands the importance of collaboration with other entities. More than forty funding and program partners are part of the diverse CEDO network. CEDO is doing critical conservation work for all of us and we look forward to everything that it will accomplish in the next 30 years. I commend the dedicated staff, board members and volunteers whose dedication sustains this essential environmental organization.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Arizona Region of the National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, also known as HIDTA. The HIDTA mission is to reduce drug trafficking in the areas of our Nation that are most impacted. This is done through a team effort among Federal, local, and State authorities. At the recent HIDTA conference here in Washington, D.C., the Arizona HIDTA was honored for its interdiction successes and its financial investigations. In 2009, the Arizona region completed a 4-year investigation which led to a $93 million settlement with Western Union. And the Southwest Border HIDTA, which includes Arizona, was named the national HIDTA region of the year. The Southwest HIDTA region covers the drug trafficking corridors through which more than 90 percent of the drugs that are brought into this country flow through. I commend the men and women who carry out these essential and dangerous drug interdiction efforts. Thank you to the service these men and women give to our Nation. Thank you for helping us secure our borders.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act. This bill will provide a number of additional benefits to our servicemembers and their families and I am pleased that the Chairman and the Ranking Member were able to get it to the floor. I am particularly pleased that language from two of my behavioral healthcare bills, H.R. 2698 and 2699, were included in the final version of this landmark bill. My language will provide increased access to Vet Centers for our Guardsmen and Reservists, ensuring they are never again turned away for the behavioral health care they need and deserve. My language also authorizes the Vet Centers to provide veterans and servicemembers with referrals for behavioral health care so they can see their own doctor in their own community when they need it. These two items will help remove some of the stigma from behavioral health issues and specifically grant access to care for those who need it the most. When our men and women in uniform come home from war, it is our responsibility to ensure they receive the care they need and deserve. My language and this bill provide them and their families with the care and peace of mind they have earned and we owe to them. I strongly urge passage of this bill.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rob Krentz, a rancher whose family has been in southeast Arizona since 1907. On March 27, Rob was shot and murdered on his ranch. This senseless act is a stark reminder why the federal government must do more to protect citizens who live and work along the southern Arizona border. Law enforcement officials believe the killer may have been a drug smuggler who escaped to Mexico. Mr. Krentz was a pillar of the ranching community. He had a heart as big as the land that he loved. Many who spoke at his funeral said that Rob was the nicest guy you will ever meet. He was a humanitarian who provided food and water to the people that he found in distress, and was likely doing just that when he was murdered. Rob will be known for his work with the Malpai Borderlands Group, ranchers who are dedicated to conservation of the land. Rob Krentz was a husband, a brother, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, and a friend to so many. We grieve his loss and send our prayers to his wife, Susan, and children, Andy, Frank, Kyle, and all that knew this great man. He will be deeply missed, but he will never be forgotten.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, many stories have been shared here on the floor of the House of Representatives, but today I rise to share the story of Larry and Naomi, two of my constituents, who will now have health care because we recently passed health insurance reform. Last year Larry was laid off from his job, and immediately began searching for insurance. He was repeatedly denied because his wife, Naomi, was diagnosed with benign fibroids. This is a condition that occurs in up to 50 percent of all women. The companies barred his wife because she had a pre-existing condition. This is a horrible practice that will end with this new law. In my district, there are an estimated 10,300 people just like Naomi. Starting in 2014, these people will be able to get health care coverage. The new law establishes high-risk insurance pools for adults with such pre-existing conditions. When the law is fully implemented in 2014, no insurance company will be able to use this excuse to deny this type of coverage. Between now and then coverage will be available to Naomi and thousands of others. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to vote for this bill.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, yesterday I was absent and missed rollcall vote 175. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 175.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the accomplishments of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Just last week, the House unanimously passed a resolution in recognition of her distinguished career during Women's History Month. Justice O'Connor truly embodies the Arizona spirit of hard work and rugged individualism. After growing up on her family's ranch, the Lazy B located in the high deserts of Arizona, she quickly achieved success. Justice O'Connor graduated cum laude from Stanford University in 1950 and in the top three of her class at Stanford University Law School. Justice O'Connor began her career in public service as the Arizona Assistant Attorney General in 1965 and went on to the State legislature. She became the first woman in the country to serve as a Senate Majority Leader. Justice O'Connor was catapulted into our Nation's limelight when President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the United States Supreme Court in 1981. She served 24 terms on the Supreme Court in a centrist role with her commitment to uphold law and our Constitution. Just last year she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, the highest recognition for any civilian. Today we honor Justice Sandra Day O'Connor because this Friday we celebrate her 80th birthday. This resolution is a small birthday gift to a daughter of Arizona from a grateful Nation that she so proudly served.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2010 Tucson Festival of Books, which will be held at the University of Arizona on March 13 and 14. The Tucson Festival of Books is a celebration of literacy and an opportunity for those of us who cherish books to meet the men and women who write them. It is, ultimately, a community's recognition of the great value we place on the written word. As the proud home of the University of Arizona, Tucson is the ideal place for a festival of books. The Festival brings together more than 450 authors and presenters who will speak about their work, sign their books and answer questions about their craft. Now in its second year, the Tucson Festival of Books will have writing workshops and competitions, panel presentations, children's activities, storytelling, artists and musicians. The Festival truly provides something for readers of all ages. In 2009 more than 50,000 people attended the Festival and an even larger turn out is expected this year. Clearly the people of Southern Arizona have a strong love of books and reading. As much fun and informative as the Festival will be, it also serves a larger purpose. I believe that the Tucson Festival of Books can help us improve literacy and encourage young people to expand their knowledge of the world. It is a reminder of how essential books and the information they impart are to our society and to our form of government. In 2009, the Festival raised $200,000, which was distributed to agencies providing literacy services in Tucson. ``Once you learn to read,'' Frederick Douglass told us, ``you will be forever free.'' The Tucson Festival of Books plays an important role in fulfilling that promise. The 2010 Tucson Festival of Books is sponsored by the University of Arizona, the Arizona Daily Star and The Diamond Children's Medical Center. The Festival is organized and run by the Tucson Festival of Books Foundation, a non-profit organization. It was founded by Bill Viner, President of the Foundation Board of Directors. He is joined in this labor of love by Board Vice Presidents Frank Farias and John M. Humenik, Treasurer Bruce Beach and Secretary Brenda Viner. The Festival would not be possible without their hard work and dedication and the efforts of many volunteers. On behalf of a grateful community I thank and commend them for bringing us this incredible gift.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of Arizona for its dedication to excellence and achievement in higher education. One hundred and twenty-five years ago tomorrow, the 13th Territorial Legislature of the Arizona Territory--we were a territory at that time--authorized the establishment of the University of Arizona. And since that date in 1885, the U of A has maintained a steadfast dedication to building a better Arizona and a better future. The U of A is a testament to the vision of land-grant universities established across the country. For over 100 years, they have led, being the most important drivers for research and innovation that has powered our Nation's economy. The U of A today continues to be at the forefront of that research. Whether it is mapping the corn genome, teaming with NASA, or using advanced optics to harvest and utilize the power of the sun, the U of A continues to press forward with cutting-edge technology. Most importantly, the university understands that its strength is in the diversity of its students. I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring and recognizing the 125th anniversary of the University of Arizona. Congratulations, President Shelton, to the students, the region, and to everyone associated with the U of A.