Pete Gallego

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 142 I was unavoidably detained en route to the House floor. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, everyone in Texas knows about the Permian Basin's reputation for oil and gas. Every UT Longhorn or Texas A&M Aggie knows about the Permanent University Fund. Not everyone knows the critical role that Big Lake played in each of these, so today, my 23 in 1--taking people to the 23rd District in 1 minute--is about Big Lake. The first well to hit on university lands was the Santa Rita well, which is now enshrined on the UT campus in Austin. Just outside of Big Lake was the site. It was named for the patron saint of the impossible because no one really expected the well to hit. The population went from 100 people to over 2,000. Today, those wells have produced great, great resources for the University of Texas and A&M over a long period of time. There was once a lake in Big Lake; it is dry now. It was fed by springs that are no longer there. They are there only when it has had significant rain. Big Lake is a wonderful place to visit. If you ever have the opportunity, please go.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, in my continuing efforts to highlight the 23rd District of Texas, I would like to talk about one of my favorite and one of the most rural parts of the 23rd District, the ghost town of Terlingua. Terlingua, the ghost town, is located near Big Bend National Park. There are not a lot of ghosts there. There is a lot of history. There are very few people. The population is about 100 people or so. The name comes from tres lenguas, which is Spanish for three tongues because three creeks flow together nearby. It was founded in the mid-1880s as a mining town after the discovery of cinnabar. There are many things to do there every day. You can go rafting or kayaking on the Rio Grande, mountain biking, camping, hiking, motorcycling, and many, many other outdoor activities. On the first Saturday in November, more than 10,000 chiliheads convene for two annual chili cookoffs, the Chili Appreciation Society International and the Frank X. Tolbert/Wick Fowler World Chili Championships. In the 1970s, as a matter of fact, the chili cookoff also sponsored a Mexican fence-climbing contest to parody the U.S. government's plan to reinforce chain link fences along the U.S.-Mexico border. The other interesting thing about Terlingua is the unique politics of Terlingua. Clay Henry, the first mayor elected, was elected in 1986. Clay Henry was a beer drinking goat, and he defeated a local dog. Some of his campaign posters are still around, and now, they are worth a lot of money. I invite everyone to explore the beauty of the Big Bend Country and the beauty of the 23rd District.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Madam Speaker, earlier I was on the floor and I mentioned Clay Henry as one of the former elected officials in the district that I represent. I referred to him as the mayor of Terlingua; and you would think having grown up there and lived there all of my life, I would have remembered that he was actually at one time the mayor of Lajitas. Lajitas is a wonderful resort community in the Big Bend Country, right next to Terlingua. Perhaps I had too many visits with Mayor Clay Henry. I will tell you that one of the most beautiful parts of the world and one that I urge everyone to get familiar with is the Big Bend Country of west Texas: the Rio Grande River, the canyons. It is an amazing place. I urge everyone to get familiar with that part of the world, as there is really nothing like it in the entire United States.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I use some time to talk about the 23rd District. It comprises nearly a quarter of the land area of Texas. Everybody has heard of the character Popeye and his penchant for spinach, and the spinach capital of the world is Crystal City, Texas. It was named by its early settlers for the clear artesian spring water, and a statue of Popeye was erected there in 1936. The Spinach Festival is now one of the biggest and best festivals in all of south Texas. It was started in 1936, stopped for a period of time during World War II, and didn't go back up until the 1980s, but it has grown significantly over time. Crystal City also occupies a unique spot in Texas' political history in that it was the birthplace of the first Latino political party in Texas, La Raza Unida Party, which, for a time, received enough votes to qualify for a statewide ballot. Crystal City has long been known as a core of civil rights activism, and its rolling fields are now sharing space with the booming Eagle Ford Shale economy of our region. Come see a gem of the Texas Winter Garden area, Crystal City, Texas.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, El Paso, Texas, has a rich and vast history spanning back hundreds of years. With the Ysleta Mission established in the 1600s, it has deep roots in Catholicism, but it wasn't until 1914 that the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso was established by Pope Pius X. On March 3, the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The diocese provides invaluable and multilingual services to 10 counties covering nearly 27,000 miles of southwest Texas. From the historic missions Ysleta, Socorro, and San Elizario, through the Davis Mountains, and on to the Big Bend country, the diocese is rich in history. While these three missions are a focal point of the 100th birthday celebration, all the churches in the diocese play a critical role in their respective communities and, through these historic missions and the far-flung churches where priests and nuns still ride the circuit, the Diocese of El Paso has a profound impact on young and old alike. As a member of the Diocese of El Paso, I wish them great success over the next 100 years. Feliz cumpleanos. Happy Birthday.

Mr. GALLEGO

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

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chairman, I, too, would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their work on this legislation. I can think of nothing more important that all of us, I think, can agree on than the importance of taking care of our veterans and our veterans' community, especially now that we have so many wounded warriors coming back. So many groups have taken to outdoor activities as part of the therapy for wounded warriors, making sure that we really approach making them whole again in a very real way, and nature is a huge part of that. Last night, in fact, this Chamber held a moment of silence to honor veterans in Afghanistan and Iraq. These are folks who have put their country above all else. And what this amendment specifically would do would be to essentially correct what I believe also was an oversight in ensuring that veterans are also included in this Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee. Again, it is because so many veterans groups now in so many places are popping up where the outdoors is a great part of that therapy and a very important part of the therapy that many of our wounded warriors are receiving. This advisory committee, as they give their advice to the administration, it is important that they do so with a veteran at the table. It is important that veterans have that voice, and they look at it with the perspective from a wounded warrior or a veteran, someone who has served our country in uniform. What is it that we can be doing to make this experience more meaningful for them? Again, I appreciate the opportunity very much to offer the amendment.

Mr. GALLEGO. I am happy to yield to the gentleman.

Mr. GALLEGO. I yield to the gentleman from Oregon.

Mr. GALLEGO. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, in my continuing efforts to highlight parts of the 23rd District, I rise today to talk about one of the jewels of the 23rd, Castroville, where Texas meets France. One of several settlements founded by Henri Castro in 1844, the Alsatian culture there is still evident. And most people don't know that it was the first county seat of Medina County, serving until 1893. The population in the 2010 census was only 2,680 people. It is a small town very near a big city, 25 miles west of San Antonio. There are 97 historical buildings in the town. It is a great place for a walking tour. And if you are looking for recreational relaxation, there are few places better than Castroville, where the Medina River meanders through town. The Medina River was once the border between Texas and Mexico. There are 126 acres of pecan trees and flowers along the Medina River in the Castroville Regional Park and lots and lots of shopping. Castroville Pottery is one of the coolest pottery shops around, where they will show you how to make your own. Mr. Speaker, around the 23rd District in 1 minute.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to talk about the 23rd District in 1 minute--23 in 1 today. I want to talk about Monahans, Texas, the home of the Loboes. Monahans High School is known not only for their athletic programs, with several State championships in women's volleyball, for example, but also on the academic side as the host of one of the preeminent--one of the biggest--speech and debate tournaments in west Texas. Monahans is in Ward County in the Permian Basin, located off of I-20. The economy is booming with high-paying jobs and with an active, full service Chamber of Commerce--one of the more active in the region. If you are looking for recreation, the Monahans Sandhills State Park has sand dunes that are 70-feet high, with sand boarding, sand football, sand surfing, sand tobogganing, hiking, and even horseback riding. If you go there in the spring, for example, the Rattlesnake Army Airbase will be a new museum. It was one of the largest bomber training bases of World War II, and it was the temporary home of the Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Japan in World War II. It is scheduled to open in March. Nearly 24 percent of Texas is in one district, in the 23rd District. It is an incredible stretch. I am so proud to have the opportunity to represent Monahans, Texas, in Ward County.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I am sure every Member of Congress thinks that his or her district is the most beautiful, the most unique of all, but the 23rd District in Texas is about 24 percent of the land area of Texas--it is a huge, huge area. I would like to highlight in 1 minute parts of the 23rd, take you around the 23rd in 1 minute. I think it is appropriate to start with the city of Alpine, my hometown. Alpine is the county seat of Brewster County, which is the largest county in Texas. It is the home of Sul Ross State University. Sul Ross has more national rodeo championships than any other college or university in the Nation, and it is the birthplace of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. If you have the opportunity, look up Brewster County. Look up Alpine. I am thinking about Alpine a lot as I go home this weekend to address the Chamber of Commerce for my first time as a Member of Congress, and I am so looking forward to being home in the highest, tallest peaks of west Texas.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I couldn't let the first week in Congress go by without taking a moment to congratulate Grandfalls-Royalty. Grandfalls-Royalty is one of the smallest public schools in Texas, with a student head count of about 27 kids. They had 16 of those guys in uniform not so long ago to play in the State championship six-man football game. I am proud to say that Grandfalls-Royalty defeated Milford 73-28. Grandfalls-Royalty made their first debut in a State playoff game. It was held in the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the $1.2 billion home of the Dallas Cowboys. Frankly, it was also called. For the 13th time this season, it was called by the 45-point mercy rule. That meant the game ended with still 6 minutes and 28 seconds to play in the fourth quarter. Quite an accomplishment for a small school, one in west Texas that I am very, very proud of. Congratulations to Grandfalls-Royalty.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this first day of our 2014 session to pay tribute to a husband, a father, a son, and a San Antonian. Bobby Deckard was a San Antonio police officer who died on Friday, December 20. He had come in on his day off to substitute for a colleague. He was shot in the line of duty. He was only 31 years of age. This past Saturday, San Antonio and its citizens came together to honor Bobby's life and bid him a final farewell. Thousands of people lined the streets, and thousands of police officers from throughout the country were present as police helicopters flew in formation above the burial service, in remembrance of someone who spent 7 years of his life helping the citizens of San Antonio. During the ceremony, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus instructed police dispatchers to retire Bobby's badge number, 0582, and every officer throughout the city heard the retirement of that badge number. In a November email, ironically, Bobby Deckard had aspired to join the honor guard, the honor guard that, in fact, escorted his flag- draped coffin. In an email to his supervisor, he wrote that was the highest position of honor inside the department. That tells us so much about him, so much about him even as we mourn his loss. He had a positive outlook and a great personality. His humor could win anybody over. Mr. Speaker and Members, I ask that we all take a moment to remember Bobby Deckard, police officer from San Antonio, Texas, whose name will now be added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial, the only memorial in Washington that has never been completed.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of Mr. Maloney's motion and to underscore the importance of the safety of dams. I would like to talk for a moment about a small town in which I grew up in west Texas. I heard often the story of a fateful night in Sanderson, Texas, in June of 1965 after heavy rains caused a 15-foot wall of water to come rolling through Sanderson Canyon. The water came down with such force that it turned bridges and buildings into torpedoes. The two cemeteries lost burial markers, and caskets were washed out. Families lost homes. Many lost everything. There were 28 people in Sanderson, Texas, who died, and two were never recovered. Since that flood in 1965, 11 dams have been built, which in unison have acted as a flood control system for Sanderson Canyon. We don't want any more Sanderson flood-type experiences. El Paso, Presidio, and Del Rio all have experiences with water rushing through canyons and, in coming through, causing damage. The only things that have saved life and property have been these dams that have been in existence now for some time. As the ranking member mentioned earlier, those dams are incredibly important. They are incredibly important in saving property, and they are incredibly important in saving lives. Significantly, across the country, nearly half of these dams are more than 50 years old. It is incredibly important that they be maintained and maintained well. In Del Rio, the Amistad Dam holds water from the Rio Grande, the Pecos River, and the Devils River. Imagine the importance of that dam. While that dam is maintained by a binational commission, there are many other dams in that region and in that area that serve not only to save water for agricultural purposes but for many other purposes as well. In fact, even in San Antonio, the world-famous River Walk is controlled by a series of small dams; and when it rains there, as it has recently, those dams have become incredibly, incredibly important. In the Sanderson example that I gave earlier, households, up until recently, have been spending $700 a year on flood insurance annually even if there hasn't been a flood in 4\1/2\ decades. We can save a lot of people a lot of money if we just make sure that these dams are built well, that they are maintained well, and that they serve their functions not only now but in the foreseeable future. So, with that, Madam Speaker, I again thank Mr. Maloney for bringing this issue to the attention of the membership of the Congress, and I rise in support of his motion to instruct.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding. Madam Speaker, thank you so much for the opportunity to speak. This past Veterans Day, I had the opportunity to recognize and to thank those who served in the military with a duty to defend our country. I and all of us, I think, who serve in this Chamber have a duty to these veterans to defend their needs here in the U.S. Congress, and that would include the need for comprehensive immigration reform. I am very privileged to represent a portion of San Antonio, Texas, known as Military City, USA. This past weekend, at a Veterans Day ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, there was a different aspect of that celebration for veterans, because this past weekend, as we honored veterans on Veterans Day at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, there was also, at that same site, that same location, that same time, a naturalization ceremony, where 18 people, servicemembers, were naturalized: Eddie Rivers, Theophilus Botchway, Lily Alexandra Caceres, Tashique Williams, Kwaku Bosoah, Kenneth Francis, Jr., Nabieula Samura, Maria Cervantes Ramos, Carena Garabet Akridge, Larry Ndungu, Elkanah Yator, Mario Alexis Mares, Omar Ruiz Perez, Guillermo Chavez Cardenas, Marlon Chris Gabriel, Petra Maria Thompson, Gabriel Adjetey, all of those were involved in the Veterans Day naturalization ceremony. They came from Dominica, Ecuador, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, the Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago and Syria. You see, each year about 8,000 noncitizens join the U.S. military. Their sacrifices throughout history have been many. Immigrants who served in the U.S. military are enlistees like Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez, who was the first U.S. serviceman killed in combat in Iraq some 10 years ago. Mr. Gutierrez, who was a native of Guatemala, arrived in the U.S. without documents at the age of 14. He received his U.S. citizenship posthumously, after his supreme sacrifice. Others, like Alfred Rascon, emerged from the war as high achievers. Mr. Rascon, who was an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, was assigned to Fort Sam Houston for basic and for specialist medical training. He was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam war. He became a U.S. citizen, and he later served as Director of the United States Selective Service System. The list of stories of noncitizens who have served in the U.S. military is a very long list. Enlistments by immigrants are highest during times of war. At the end of the last decade, Madam Speaker, there were over 100,000 foreign-born individuals serving in various aspects in various capacities in our Armed Forces. That is why it is so important to recognize the contributions of immigration to our national security. On social media, through Twitter and Facebook, I made it known that I was at this ceremony on Veterans Day in San Antonio, where not only were we honoring veterans, but there was a citizenship and naturalization ceremony at the same time. And there were many comments about, How is this possible? Well, it is and it has been. In the years since 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have, in fact, relied on immigrants in our military. Since 2002, over 89,000 military servicemembers have become U.S. citizens. Immigrants in the military and other agencies critical to our national security have served as translators, for example; and through their understanding of local communities and through their understanding of local customs, they have helped collect intelligence which better protects Americans, not only at home, but also abroad. Unfortunately, today the House leadership said that they would not consider immigration reform this year, and, frankly, that is a real tragedy. They said they wouldn't even consider looking at the Senate bill as a starting point to negotiate. H.R. 15, of which I am a cosponsor, has 190 other cosponsors and 25 or so Republicans who have vowed to support it, and thus, the votes are there to pass immigration reform. In this time of excessive partisanship and excessive bickering, we have to find a way forward to do the right thing for our country, for our kids, and for our future. We have to figure out a way to succeed, even if we succeed sometimes in spite of ourselves. Especially in today's political climate, so many of us here in the House, we repeatedly talk about our commitment to principles, our commitment to fighting for what we, as individual Members, believe in. But the reality is that, in a House with 435 people and with 100 Members of the Senate and an all-or-nothing attitude, many times it produces nothing, and that all-or-nothing attitude kills immigration reform. That all-or-nothing attitude produces nothing for children who have known no other home than the United States and are here through no fault of their own. It produces nothing of the estimated $775 billion in revenue and $125 billion in payroll from immigrant-owned businesses, and it produces nothing of the $175 billion in deficit reduction in the first 10 years after immigration reform is enacted or another $700 billion in deficit reduction in the 10 years after that. Immigrants are so important to our country in so many ways. We say it all the time. We say it all the time. Ours is a Nation of immigrants. Immigration reform is critical to our economy, to our families, and, yes, even to our national security.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Thank you so much. I appreciate very much, Congressman Green, your leadership on this issue. It is incredibly important. As I listened to Congressman Murphy and others talk on this issue, and you realize that one out of every three women will feel the impact of domestic violence in her lifetime, you have to realize that, even among the people in this room, we know people who have been impacted by domestic violence. All of us have a mom. Many of us have sisters. Domestic violence can impact anyone. Even though it is not openly spoken about many times, even though it is not openly addressed in our society, and even though many feel that it is something that could never happen to them, the truth is, it could happen to anybody, and it could happen to people other than women. Fourteen percent of the victims of domestic violence are men. In 2012, in Texas alone, 114 people were killed. In the district that I represent, from El Paso to San Antonio, there were eight cases of domestic violence. Everyone here, many of you have met my son, who has become the center of my universe. I will tell you that children are incredibly important. They are certainly important to me and to the Members of this Chamber, the Members of this body. The truth is that kids are also impacted by violence because, many times, the child is also assaulted. In fact, according to a Task Force report, in several instances, the young children at the scene of the crime were also attacked, and, in fact, they were stabbed or strangled or shot or kidnapped, or some violence was committed on the children. These numbers are heartbreaking. There are far too many people impacted. The sad part is that most of the time there are many signs of trouble. You can see it. There is a time in the life of every problem where it is big enough to see but still small enough to solve. Researchers and service providers have already identified some common characteristics that help predict the risk factor as a precursor to intimate partner murders. Stalking, for example. Stalking ranks as a top indicator of risk. Nationally, 76 percent of those cases involve at least one episode of stalking within a year prior to the murder. One in six women report having experienced stalking which made them feel very fearful or believe that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed. Intimate partner violence manifests itself from dehumanizing attitudes and beliefs, and it results in cruelty, brutality, degradation of the victims' physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Ninety-nine percent of all woman who have died as a result of domestic violence never stayed in a shelter. Ninety-five percent had no contact with a certified domestic violence center within 5 years of their death. There is help out there. We just need to get people to the help, and the only way that we can do that is if more people are aware of the resources that are available to victims of domestic violence. As I said, all of us, statistically, we are going to know someone who has been impacted by domestic violence, and it is very important that we all work together to make sure that they all have the help that they need. On any given day in the U.S., over 60,000 women and kids--60,000, think about that--60,000 women and kids are residing in domestic violence shelters. The shelters provide a critical, critical, critical service. It is up to us, our States, our communities and our fellow citizens to make a difference, to make sure that we step up to the plate and keep these resources available, keep the help where we need the help, so that we can stop those hearts from breaking, we can mend those lives, and we can help those kids. I had the great privilege, as Mr. Green alluded to, of serving in the Texas Legislature for a long time, including service as chairman of the committee of jurisdiction, the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, and I carried a lot of legislation for victims of domestic violence. I am very proud of those activities. I am very proud of that opportunity to be of service, and I hope that all 435 Members of this body and the 100 Members on the other side of this building will, all together, in a very bipartisan fashion, stand up and say, Let's put an end to domestic violence. Thank you so much for your time.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Thank you for yielding. We were visited today by a group called Bibles, Badges and Business. One of the Bible passages which was quoted to me today is in the Gospel according to St. Matthew, in which he talks about, I was hungry, and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. That is the genesis, I think, for a lot of people who want, from a Christian ethics' perspective, to support immigration reform. You also have the people who support immigration reform, frankly, because of the idea that they are parents. Frankly, I think any parent understands that, once you hold that kid in your arms for the first time, I mean, you will do anything you have to do to make sure your little boy or your little girl eats. Then there are the economic arguments that we have been talking about. For me, the economic arguments also are so important because the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for example, has cited a study that shows that immigrant-owned businesses would generate more than $775 billion in revenue with $125 billion in payroll and $100 billion in income. That is pretty impressive. Do you know what percentage of the American workforce they could employ if they were unleashed? They could employ 1 out of every 10 workers, which is just a phenomenal statistic. The other thought that I find really interesting is, of course, that immigrants are also consumers, and when they consume, they further drive the job growth. Now, many Members of Congress and, certainly, many people from Texas are familiar with George W. Bush. Do you know there is now a George W. Bush Institute? Were you aware of that? The George W. Bush Institute has, frankly, been a very strong proponent of immigration reform, and it has produced a 65-page document titled ``Growth and Immigration'' which states that immigrants serve as catalysts for growth. In fact, the report from the George W. Bush Institute says that communicating the positive economic contributions of immigrants is the first step in helping Americans recognize the hidden advantages of immigration. The institute is confident that bipartisan solutions exist and that, when properly informed, Americans agree more on this topic than they realize. That is pretty impressive coming from the George W. Bush Institute. Further, the Congressional Budget Office shows that immigration reform wouldn't negatively impact U.S. workers and that it would reduce the Federal budget deficit by $175 billion. So I think it is important that we get the facts out and that we make a difference because comprehensive immigration reform is so important to everybody from across the border. I have never seen so many groups unified to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 527 on the Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, I am not recorded because I was absent due to attendance at the funeral of Deputy Sheriff Billy ``Bubba'' Kennedy from Upton County who was killed in the line of duty after 14 years as a committed peace officer. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 528 on H.J. Res. 77, the Food and Drug Safety Act, I am not recorded because I was absent due to attendance at the funeral of Deputy Sheriff Billy ``Bubba'' Kennedy from Upton County who was killed in the line of duty after 14 years as a committed peace officer. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the late Billy ``Bubba'' Kennedy, a deputy sheriff who was killed last night out in west Texas. A committed peace officer of 14 years, he was killed in the line of duty at only 38 years old. A graduate of Iraan High School, Deputy Kennedy worked for 7 years at the Pecos County Sheriff's Department, where I met him. He also worked for 4 years at the Brown County Sheriff's Department before joining the Upton County Sheriff's Department in November of 2012. He is remembered by his friends, his colleagues, and his family. Deputy Kennedy's name will be added to the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial next year. That is the only memorial in Washington, D.C., that will never be finished. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Jodi; two sons, Lane and Blake, who are 10 and 15 years old; and his parents, Billy Frank and Della Kennedy. I'm honored to have had the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to recognize Bubba Kennedy, the deputy sheriff that I knew and respected. His devotion to his community and his family has truly impacted the lives of many and will continue to do so, even after his passing. In Rankin, Texas, which is such a small community in west Texas, where everybody knows everybody, his death, his loss is truly, truly deeply felt.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, Ronald Reagan told a story many years ago about a little boy who encountered a pile of manure and was very excited because he thought there might be a pony in there somewhere. And the truth is that a lot of people across the country are looking for a pony. So many people understand across the board that this isn't really about veterans or parks or the Washington, D.C., budget. It's a fight over ObamaCare and whether ObamaCare gets funded or not, a subject that has had some 40-something votes in the U.S. House of Representatives. And I will also tell you that today, I've spent my day talking to people on the phone. I spoke to a veteran employed with the Federal Government in San Antonio who is a single dad and is worried about how he will pay his bills. A retired sergeant in Fort Stockton with the same story. Two people who were very interesting, one who told me straight up that he was a Tea Party member in San Antonio, Texas. He said, If you have a fight about ObamaCare, that should be separate and apart from keeping the doors of government open. And a woman in Ozona, Texas, who told me the same thing. But perhaps the best statement that I have had came from an airman who serves in the 23rd District who wrote me this: While I and many others appreciate the gratitude expressed in times like these, we have also become weary of the same. Whenever the actions of our national leaders have a negative impact on us, as government employees--which seems to have become the norm over the last years--we hear the same rhetoric. We don't want to hear how grateful and appreciative our leaders are. We want them to show their gratitude through deeds. Passing a fiscally sound budget.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. GALLEGO. Yes, Mr. Speaker. I am opposed in its current form.