Sam Johnson

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, at this point I would like to recognize Mr. Scott Garrett from New Jersey for 1 minute.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, as the 345th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (Airborne) prepares to deploy to Afghanistan, I ask the Congress to join me in commending the distinguished military company. To the brave men and women off to serve on the front lines, thank you. God bless you and I salute you. 245th PSYOP Co. was constituted into the regular Army on December 20, 1965. The unit deployed to Vietnam in February, 1966. The 245th was assigned to the 6th BN, 7th PSYOP Group. 245th elements supported the 1 CAV DIV, 101st ABN DIV, and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Device. Deactivated in January 1968. The 245th was reconstituted on October 30, 1975 in the Army Reserve under the 90th ARCOM, 5th U.S. Army. In 1980, the 245th supported the Cuban Refugee Resettlement Project at Ft. McCoy, WI. The 245th was placed under USACAPOC and U.S. Army Special Operations Command in 1990. December 27, 1990, 18 soldiers mobilized to support Operation Desert Shield. Tactical PSYOP Teams conducted combat operations with elements of the 1st, 2nd Marine Divisions and the 5th Special Forces Group during Operation Desert Storm. 245th teams distinguished themselves at the Battle of Khafji, the liberation of Kuwait City, and with deception and surrender appeals in the Kuwaiti desert. Members earned Marine Combat Action Ribbons, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendations, and four Bronze Stars. The 245th also earned the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation. September 16, 1994, a Tactical Detachment deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy. Two soldiers supported a team of the 3rd Special Forces Group and the rest were with the 10th Mountain DIV. TPTs conducted civilian non-intereference, civil information campaigns, and QRF operations. In 1996, the 245th was redesignated the 345th Tactical PSYOP Co. (Airborne), 16th BN, 2nd PSYOP GRP. The unit conducted numerous training exercises at JRTC, NTC, and CMTC in Germany. In 1997, the 345th was given the warning order to deploy to the Balkans for Operation Joint Guard. In 1998, the unit operated in war- torn Bosnia. The unit was primarily in the Multi-National Division North supporting the 3/2 Armored Cavalry Regiment. Other soldiers were in Sarajevo and Banja Luka. Teams conducted presence patrols in the Zone of Separation between the Serbs, Muslims, and Croats, civilian non-interference, civil information campaign, mine awareness, and passive intelligence gathering. In 2000, a Tactical Detachment deployed to Kosovo to conduct missions, in support of Operation Joint Guardian. KFOR Teams ran similar missions as in Bosnia, with their 310th PSYOP Co. counterparts and the 82nd ABN DIV. In the late 1990s through the early 2000s, the OPTEMPO of the unit steadily increased with missions to Germany, Jordan, Oman, and Egypt. However, on September 11, 2001, the 345th prepared to defend freedom with the onset of the Global War on Terror. In 2002, three Tactical Detachments and a Headquarters/PDD deployed with the 3rd Special Forces Group's 1st BN to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. 345th Teams were spread throughout the country to work with 3rd, 19th, 20th, and 7th SF GRP ODAs, other government agencies, Afghan militias, and conventional soldiers to hunt hostile Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists, conduct civilian non-interference, tactical deception, surrender appeals, special recon, mine awareness, sensitive site exploitation, and direct action in support of unconventional warfare. 345th soldiers were recognized with numerous awards. The unit has had soldiers continuously deployed to OEF since, where they continue to set the standard for special operations in austere environments. With less than a year home, the 345th was given a warning order to prepare to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From February to October 2004, the 345th was assigned responsibility for tactical PSYOP in Baghdad, Iraq supporting elements of the 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 10th Mountain Division, and numerous other special operations, foreign, and host nation forces. Teams conducted the full spectrum of military operations in urban terrain. From direct action raids, cordon and searches, and sonic deception to humanitarian assistance, 345th teams were involved in direct combat operations against anti-coalition forces, foreign terrorists, Al Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, former Baathists, and other hostile forces. Six Purple Hearts were awarded and a multitude of other awards to individual soldiers and the unit. The 345th remains actively engaged in this theater, as well. In 2006, reserve component PSYOP units were reassigned to the U.S. Army Reserve Command, though continue to train through the U.S. Army's JFK Special Warfare Center and School. 345th Soldiers have sent soldiers on every rotation in support of the Global War on Terror since 9-11. 345th soldiers have also been called to serve in small teams or as individuals in Romania, Korea, Japan, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, and Egypt with no sign of letting up. 345th soldiers continue to attend professional schools, training rotations, and prepare for future combat deployments.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, we have a responsibility to our children and our grandchildren to solve this energy crisis. This is about American energy for our American economy to create American jobs and a better American quality of life. I have urged my constituents to call the Speaker of the House and relay their opinion that they believe Americans want, need and serve some answers on energy policy. I tell you as I told them: Call the Capitol Hill switchboard. That number is 202-225-3121. I suggested that you make their voices heard that we all want to make America more energy self-sufficient while protecting America's home- grown energy resources. Congress ought not leave town for 5 weeks without a vote on real energy solutions. Businesses don't shut down for 5 weeks without finishing the job. Congress ought not close up shop when there is still work to be done to preserve our Nation.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ms. Zoe Lofgren and Mr. Lamar Smith. Those two worked well with us on Social Security, and I rise today to support the bill and extend the E-Verify program. The extension is, unfortunately, the least we can do to provide a workable tool for employers who want to do the right thing and verify that their new employees are authorized to work in this country. Americans need real immigration reform. We need to protect our borders and make sure Americans are not fighting for jobs with people who are here illegally. This bill is a step in the right direction. We have got a long way to go. I support a mandatory nationwide electronic verification system so we don't have a patchwork of conflicting State and local laws. Protecting Social Security is always the right thing to do, so as the ranking member on the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, I am pleased the bill includes provisions that ensure Social Security and DHS agree on funding to support E-Verify. However, I ask my colleagues, how long do we have to experiment with employment verification before Congress delivers a nationwide, mandatory, long-term solution that this country needs and the American people deserve? Last February, I, along with several of my Ways and Means colleagues, introduced the New Employment Verification Act, or NEVA. Representative Giffords and I have been working together on this bill that builds on the success of E-Verify while addressing its challenges. I hope everyone interested in this debate will take the opportunity to look at the information on this bill on my website. When it comes to immigration, the American people want, need and expect real solutions, and American employers need a first class system that helps them comply with the law.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you, Mr. McNulty. I will tell you what, you are a protector of our future with Social Security, and there is nothing in this bill, thanks to the Judiciary people on both sides, that changes the Social Security Act or the laws and rules governing the use of Federal appropriations. Therefore, the current prohibition on Social Security's use of its limitation on administrative expenses, known as LAE, on trust fund monies for non-program purposes, remains in effect. Is that the understanding of the chairman?

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the chairman for his supportive efforts to protect the Social Security programs and beneficiaries. We all recognize E-Verify is an important tool. We have to balance that recognition with the needs of our seniors, those with disabilities and others who depend on Social Security for their basic needs.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. So Social Security would not be able to pay for E-Verify expenses if there weren't agreements with DHS that require that Department to pay Social Security expenses; is that correct?

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. It is my understanding that the Social Security Act is quite specific with respect as to how Social Security's own funds, that is, trust funds and LAE, can be used, is that correct?

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, Congress is trying to keep the housing market afloat and is working on an unbridled government expansion of the Federal Housing Administration to do it. I'm all for finding commonsense housing relief for those in trouble, but we need to hold hearings and take a closer look at this proposal and the ramifications. Just because the housing market has tumbled doesn't mean we should capriciously finance a big fat government bailout. Some in Congress want the FHA to ensure about $300 billion worth of risky mortgages, and they want the taxpayers to be held responsible when homeowners default on their loan. That makes no sense. The Senate sent us a proposal to pay for the FHA expansion using a tax on mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Unfortunately, Fannie and Freddie are in trouble and now looking for their own bailout. Why should taxpayers foot the bill to prop up those former giants when the company CEOs rake in a bundle and continue to do so? As one person said, It's privatized profits and socialized risk. Apparently, Daniel Mudd, the CEO of Fannie Mae, received $11.6 million in salary, stock, and other compensation for 2007. Richard Syron, CEO of Freddie Mac, took home about $18.3 million last year. On top of his salary, stock options, and a $3.5 million bonus, Freddie Mac paid for a number of other perks for Syron such as a car and driver, a home security system, travel costs for his wife, even $100,000 to pay his lawyer to negotiate his employment contract with the bank. Now everyone knows I'm a strong supporter of freedom and free enterprise, but this is ridiculous, and I think even you all would agree. The lack of accountability and responsibility is astounding. I will not support a bailout for speculators and a package that provides little help to real homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages on time. I do not believe we should ask people who rent homes or apartments and all of the people who reasonably and responsibly saved for a home to foot the bill for all of the people who are in foreclosure. That's just not right. We should have empathy, but we should not write a blank check.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, recently I congratulated the new high school baseball national championship team--Plano West Senior High School. I also want to recognize additional people who contributed to the Wolves. Coaches: Greg Pierce, Assistant Coach; Greg Coutermarsh, Assistant Coach; Denny Garver, Assistant Coach. Players: Dustin Ellis; Sam Roberson; Ronnie Cooper--Student Manager; Karen Clark--Bat boy.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, to help families dealing with the high price of gas, the White House ended the ban on deep ocean energy exploration. Now it's up to the Congress to give this commonsense move the final green light. We must pursue increasing production of American-made energy in an environmentally conscious manner off the coast of the Atlantic, the Gulf, and the Pacific. We have the technology to access fuels right here in America while still protecting our natural resources for future generations. We should and must develop our own oil and natural gas resources in the deep waters offshore, on Federal lands, and in oil shale if we want to revive America's independence. It's past time Congress got off the dime and approved deep ocean energy exploration today. Americans, the future of America is at stake.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. The price of gasoline has spiked up $2 since the Democrats took control of the Congress in just January 2007. Americans want Democrats and Republicans to work together to find commonsense solutions to the skyrocketing cost of gasoline. The United States must become energy self-sufficient. Oil, gas, coal, nuclear, solar, and wind, all of it. To bring down the price of gasoline, we must focus on increasing America's energy supply. Congress needs to act now to increase exploration and boost America's refinery capability. Americans are ready for action. They want an up-or-down vote on energy independence. A Democrat aide is quoted in The Hill newspaper as saying, ``Right now, our strategy on gas prices is drive small cars and wait for the wind.'' If those are their only ideas, then, as the astronaut said when they were in orbit, Houston, we have a problem.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to General T. Michael ``Buzz'' Moseley, 18th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, an exemplary patriot and extraordinary leader, who, on July 9, 2008, completed 37 years of distinguished service to our Nation. General Moseley began his accomplished career at Texas A&M and Webb AFB, where he earned his wings in 1973. He proceeded to a series of demanding assignments as flight instructor, test pilot and mission commander. His peerless operational skills were honed by the most prestigious positions, to include command at every level--most notably the Air Force Fighter Weapons School, the 9th Air Force, and the U.S. Central Command Air Forces. General Moseley led airmen in peace, crisis, and war--from Operation Southern Watch, through the harrowing days in the wake of September the 11, 2001, to engaging the Taliban in Operation Enduring Freedom and the destruction of Saddam Hussein's war machine in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The breadth of General Moseley's assignments and the professionalism with which he has carried them out, reflect a keen intellect and unrivaled grasp of national security policies and air power's role in implementing them. Equally impressive, has been General Moseley's staunch, consistent advocacy of inter-Service and international cooperation as the most effective way of assuring allies, dissuading and deterring adversaries, and defeating implacable foes. A brilliant speaker with a sharp wit and endearing style, General Moseley has frequently testified before the Congress on a wide variety of issues critical to the Air Force's--and the Nation's--readiness to face an uncertain future. However controversial the topic or pointed the questioning, he has always been a most poised, eloquent proponent of balancing current exigencies with future requirements. His focus has remained unwavering: assure that USAF remains America's asymmetric advantage--our Nation's multidimensional, global maneuver force--the force of first and last resort. As the 18th Chief of Staff and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from September 2005 to August 2008, General Moseley has been a trusted advisor on all aspects of airpower and its key role in promoting and defending America's interests at home and abroad. His 37 years of distinguished service epitomize bold leadership, strategic vision, intellectual flexibility, innovation, honor, integrity, dignity and selfless devotion. His exceptional grasp of war-fighters' needs, born of his own combatant experience, has enabled the Air Force to provide unprecedented Global Reach, Global Vigilance and Global Power for both traditional and non-traditional missions. Under his leadership, the Air Force spread its wings over America's cities, delivered relief to victims of tsunamis and hurricanes, expanded international ties to reassure allies and deter enemies--all while flying and fighting as an indispensable part of the Joint force in Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters of the Global War on Terror. His commitment to his Airmen has been peerless. In a constrained fiscal environment--and with lives in the balance--General Moseley's uncommon courage, expertise and foresight have forged a set of transformational initiatives designed to spark an intellectual renaissance while recapitalizing an aging air fleet, worn down by 18 years of continuous combat. He has sought to provide his Airmen with the quality of life they deserve, while seeing to their training, education and leadership. He has refocused the Service on a single core mission: bolstering warrior ethos and fostering joint and combined synergies. He has worked tirelessly to reinvigorate the innovation, flexibility, and creative, strategic thinking that have been Airmen's hallmarks since the dawn of aviation. In the context of this conceptual, organizational and technological transformation, General Moseley has redefined the Air Force for the 21st Century, ensuring that America's guardians will continue to fly, fight and win in both today's battles and in tomorrow's crucibles. While many distinguished awards and decorations adorn his uniform-- from his own grateful Nation as well as from such staunch allies as Britain, France, Korea, Brazil, Singapore, and the UAE--what stands out most and what we honor him for today is his unflinching commitment to the cause of freedom and justice. General T. Michael ``Buzz'' Moseley has earned the deepest respect from all whom he has served during his illustrious career--most notably this Congress and a grateful Nation.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the new high school baseball national championship team. It is from Plano West Senior High School. They are called the Wolves. Go Wolves. Maxpreps.com ranked the Texas State champs, the Plano West Senior High School varsity baseball team, number one in the Nation on June 22. Under head coach Kendall Clark, this year the Wolves played a perfect season, won the district title with 14 wins and won 28 straight in 2008. This is the first time since 1987 that Plano Independent School District has had a team crowned national champions, and this year marks the first time a baseball team in Plano has captured the prestigious national title. Congratulations to the Wolves. We are proud of you. Your parents are proud of you, Plano is proud of you, and America is proud of you. I salute you. God bless you, God bless America. I include the names of the players and coaches in the Record, and congratulate them one and all.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1294, to recognize the goals of National Save for Retirement Week. I am pleased to join my colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Allyson Schwartz, to again introduce a resolution in support of National Save for Retirement Week. The week is designated this year as October 19-25. You know the best time for Americans to save is on payday. That is when they have got the cash. When employees save through their employer-based retirement plan, the money comes out of their paycheck before other tempting priorities get in the way. Saving for numero uno ought to be every working American's top priority before spending on optional things like dinner, movies, or, I hope today, still buying a shiny new car. Saving for retirement is not as flashy or fun as many competing priorities, but the only way most of us are ever going to be able to afford retirement in the future is by saving today. This spring, the Employee Benefit Research Institute released its annual retirement confidence survey that shows Americans' confidence in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement has dropped to its lowest level in several years. This drop in confidence represents several concerns, but the big concerns I hear about are the overall state of the economy, the weak stock market and concern about one's own job security. The answer to these concerns, in my opinion, is to save in an employer-based retirement plan. The first reason is that most employers match the employee contributions. If an employee puts 1 percent of earnings into a plan, many employers match that contribution dollar for dollar. That means the employee gets a 100 percent rate of return. Even if the market slides a little bit, the employee still comes out ahead because of the company match. Many employers match even more generously, up to 4 or 6 percent of salary. When an employer is handing out free money, I encourage all employees to get in line and let's say ``yes.'' A second reason to save at work is our economy is going to recover soon and employees can look at their current stock market purchases as buying low. The formal term for regular purchases in the stock market is dollar cost averaging. That means you purchase mutual funds or stocks at regular intervals, such as on payday, regardless of share price. Under dollar cost averaging, when the market prices are low, you end up buying more shares with a set amount of money, and when market prices are high you buy fewer shares with your set amount of dollars. Buy low, sell high. It works every time to build wealth. The third reason to participate in an employer-based retirement plan is that the sooner people save money, the sooner the most powerful force on Earth can work for them, the power of compound interest. With an average of 8 percent return, money doubles every 9 years. The cost of living in the future, even in retirement, is not going to go down, but money saved early in one's work life will make retirement easier. Another powerful force in saving is inertia, sometimes described as a body at rest stays at rest, or a body in motion stays in motion. Employers and Congress recognize that principles of inertia often means that employees never get around to affirmatively signing up for retirement plans at work. To address inertia, Congress passed a law to allow employers to automatically enroll employees in retirement plans and get those savings rolling forward with the power of compound interest. The amazing thing is we are now seeing roughly 90 percent employer participation in retirement plans with an automatic enrollment, up from previous levels of roughly 70 percent. I am glad to see this new law is working. Last year, after we enacted a similar resolution, I was happy to see reports about the number of employers that promoted National Save for Retirement Week. There were lots of employee benefit fairs, promotional enrollment meetings and seminars, and other employers printed up new brochures for employees to review regarding the importance of retirement savings. I hope to work with more employers in my congressional district this year to bring the message of Save for Retirement Week to employees. Mr. Speaker, I know that Americans are strapped for cash and that right now saving is a hard thing to do. Rising gas prices are taking bigger and bigger bites out of everyone's income. It is hard to set aside retirement money for years down the road. It feels like right now there is a lot of month left at the end of every paycheck. But Americans don't want to work forever, and the only way to retire is to plan and save. I would encourage everyone to go to the Web site choosetosave.org and use any of the calculators that help to plan for retirement, college savings, and budgeting in general. Planning is a great first step to financial security. Mr. Speaker, we know that Americans who have only Social Security as retirement income end up in poverty. As much as some of my colleagues hate to admit it, Social Security has a serious funding problem in a relatively short time and we need to address the problem. We can't just tax our way out of that problem either. Part of the reason for our horrible national savings rate is that Americans are paying a whopping 15 percent of salary between their individual share and their employer's share in payroll taxes. In 1984, when payroll taxes went up dramatically by 5 percent, the national savings rate fell by the same amount. Congress took those payroll taxes out of Americans' pockets in order to fund Social Security and Medicare, with the promise that the programs would always be there to pay benefits in the future. The problem is our programs face huge structural deficits, and Americans have not been saving. We need to change a lot of things, but the first thing we can do is get people to start saving. Americans need to save at work where they generally get a match from their employer and where the money goes down to their own retirement accounts before expenses get in the way. I look forward to working with employers and financial institutions in my Dallas and Collin County representation areas later this year to promote National Save for Retirement Week, which will happen the week of 19 October through 25 October. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Allyson for introducing this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Americans are fed up paying over $4 per gallon for gas and nearly $5 for diesel. The price of a gallon of gas has spiked $2 since Democrats took control of Congress in January of 2007. It's high time we did something about the skyrocketing cost of gasoline and allow us to explore for oil right here in America. To bring down the price of gasoline, we need to expand U.S. refinery capacity, tap America's own energy resources, streamline the number of fuel blends and promote the use of clean, alternative energy. With a nationwide price for gasoline now over $4 a gallon, it's no surprise a recent Gallup Poll showed 57 percent of Americans now favor further exploration for oil right here in America. These folks are right. Come on, America, let's strike oil.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 5 million valiant men and women who served in the Korean War. Some may know the names Buzz Aldrin or John Glenn. You know, we all flew F-86s in the 51st Fighter Wing back then together. They were household names then. I flew 62 combat missions in the Korean War and got a chance to fly with Buzz many times. On Capitol Hill, there are three of us who served in Korea in this Congress--Charlie Rangel of New York, John Conyers of Michigan, and I. The Congress is better off because Korean War veterans are represented. They call the Korean War the ``forgotten war'' as Steny Hoyer said. Nowhere is this more evident than the fact that the Korean War Veterans Association has not received a national charter. A little known fact is that American prisoners of war in Korea endured even more severe treatment than those of us in Vietnam. In fact, they didn't even want to talk about it for years. Giving the Veterans of the Korean War a national charter will put them in the same echelon as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, truly a mark of distinction. There is a Sam Johnson Korean War Veterans Group, chapter 270, in north Texas. The founder, Ed Buckman, a great patriot, did not talk about his history or his story for decades. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that he started sharing his experience and became a Korean War veteran champion. Ed Buckman is the one who helped bring the need for a national charter to my attention. Mr. Buckman arrived home in Fort Worth after serving from 1950 to 1951 as a Navy electrical engineer aboard the USS Princeton. The Veterans of Foreign Wars advised him that because President Truman dubbed the conflict in Korea a ``police action'' and not a war, Mr. Buckman and other military personnel were not considered veterans. He once said he did not say the word ``Korea'' out loud for more than 40 years. He confided to the Dallas Morning News that he was bitter. ``We were treated like dirt when we got home.'' Then, in 2000, he heard about a parade in New York City honoring veterans, including those from the Korean War. ``When I went to this parade,'' he said, ``with 25,000 marchers, they put me on the front float and there were a million people saying thank you. No one had ever thanked me for my service in Korea before,'' and he said ``it made me feel proud.'' He tirelessly advocated a national charter for the Korean War veterans, and it brings me great pleasure to know that his hard work paid off. Ed Buckman, your country and your Congress are saying thank you for your sincere devotion to the cause by creating this long overdue national charter for all Korean War veterans. I want to thank Steny Hoyer and the others in this Congress for helping do this. It's about time our Nation thanked the Korean War veterans for their service and sacrifice with national recognition and premier status. This July, we mark the 55th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. To the remaining one million plus Korean War veterans we will say, God bless you and God bless America. Your war and your efforts will not be forgotten. This is for you. America salutes you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year I introduced the New Employee Verification Act, H.R. 5515, that prevents unauthorized employment. It will replace the expiring pilot program, E-Verify, that is run by the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security has no business keeping tabs on work records of law-abiding American citizens. I strongly reject the Orwellian premise that a government agency tasked with catching terrorists should also maintain a huge database on the work history of every single American. Our bipartisan bill ensures that U.S. citizens go through Social Security to confirm their legal right to work, and noncitizens go through the Department of Homeland Security. I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 5515, to create a new work authorization system that will help reduce illegal immigration, preserve the rights and privacy of law-abiding citizens, and protect Social Security.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the phones in my office have been ringing off the hook. Constituents are hopping mad about the skyrocketing price of gasoline. In Dallas in just the last month, the price for a gallon of gas has jumped 30 cents. And that's in Texas, where we drill and explore on land and along the coast. It's about time for the Congress to take action. In fact, it's past time. Two-thirds of the oil we use comes from foreign countries. We have oil and gas in the United States, but we have to be willing to move forward with exploration. Congress should allow exploration in Alaska, along the eastern seaboard, the west coast, and allow more refineries to be built. The answer to rising gas prices is right here in America. We have the technology. We have the resources. The time is now. Democrats in Congress need to step aside and let the ingenuity of Americans solve this problem today.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor from H.R. 6041.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank Republican Leader Boehner for his efforts to recognize the prisoners of war in Vietnam and those of us who are marking 35 years of freedom. As a former prisoner of war for nearly 7 years, more than half of that time in solitary confinement, I find great comfort that Americans support our troops 110 percent. Trust me when I say it makes a tremendous difference to return to your country with a warm welcome and homecoming party versus people spitting on you or worse. Thankfully, America does not have hundreds of men and women held captive as prisoners of war like Vietnam. For this, I can only say, ``Praise the Lord.'' You know, celebrating a milestone of liberty like 35 years of freedom really puts life in perspective. I have thought about what my battered body felt like before the years of endless torture and extreme starvation, and I thank my loyal wife and family for sticking by me when I was gone. I also recall the high-caliber Americans held captive with me in Vietnam. By Christmas 1970, my captors ended my solitary confinement after 3\1/2\ years and placed me in a huge room full of American heroes, the Hanoi Hilton, now known as the ``Incredible Room Seven.'' The roster of Room Seven included 47 great Americans who spent a combined 108,116 days in captivity. That translates into just under 300 man hours gone. As for me, I spent just under 2,500 days as a POW, and you can Google ``Incredible Room Seven'' to learn about the amazing list of war heroes I have the honor of calling friends, one of whom is John McCain. While held in captivity, most of us agreed that when, not if, we returned home to America, we would quit complaining about the government and do something about it. Some of us ran for office. I served in the Texas State House and now in the U.S. Congress. Jeremiah Denton, who blinked the letters ``t-o-r-t-u-r-e'' in Morse code while reading a prepared message from the enemy into a video camera, became a U.S. Senator from Alabama. John McCain served in the House and then in the Senate. Clearly, the thread of public service in Room Seven extended well beyond the military code of conduct. I mention my 7 years in captivity for another reason as well. Today, for just about the last 7 years, our troops and their families have put their lives on the line, and many times on hold, to defend the freedom of this great Nation. The Nation has troops waging two different battles in two separate remote parts of the world, and our servicemen and women continue to stand up and be counted. Our troops have done an exceptional job. We all hope and pray they come home soon and safely when the time is right. I would like to close today by dedicating this statement to a dear friend of mine who did not make it home from captivity, Ron Storz. The enemy held me in solitary confinement in a place we POWs named Alcatraz. There were 11 of us held alone in small 3-foot by 8-foot cells, each one adjacent to another. Being the ingenious American servicemen we were, we could communicate with our fellow POWs by tapping on the walls. Of the 11 of us held in solitary cells, only 10 made it home. The North Vietnamese killed my friend Ron Storz, an Air Force captain, after he rebelled and went on a hunger strike to protest our harsh conditions. Ron Storz carried the banner of valor and heroism. This resolution includes him, too, and it includes all Americans. All I want to say is God bless America, and today I salute all ex- POWs. Thank you for bringing this measure to the floor. I salute you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to bring before this Congress the following outstanding people who have voluntarily served orphans, public school children, college students, juvenile delinquents, and needy families under the official invitation and authority of government agencies in Austria, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan and Ukraine. The excellent character demonstrated by these people, as well as their commitment to the principles upon which our Nation was founded, have not only attracted the attention of leaders, parents, the media, and students, but it has also brought honor to the United States of America and to the Lord Jesus Christ who they serve. Bair, Aileen, IL; Bair, Robert, IL; Beiler, Krista, PA; Bisson, Hannah, OH; Bollinger, Lauren, OH; Brown, James, NY; Chen, Anna, NY; Chen, Faith, NY; Chen, Grace, NY; Chen, Karen, NY; Chen, Dr. Stephen, NY; Chen, Timothy, NY. Christensen, Edith, GA; Christiansen, Alissa, OK; Christiansen, Chad, OK; Clawson, Laura, MN; Clayton, Philip, NC; Coffing, Dominique, NM; Connelly, Sarah, AZ; Conzatti, Dena, WA; Cook, Aaron, SC; Cook, Kristi, SC; Cooper, Gloria, TX; Cooper, Josiah, TX. Copu, Carmen, IL; Copu, Joy, IL; Copu, Paul, IL; Copu, Peter, IL; Copu, Rebecca, IL; Copu, Stefana, IL; Copu, Valen, IL; Copu, Victor, IL; Copu, William, IL; Crisp, Heather, OH; Cyrus, Lauren, MI; Dalrymple, Hannah, GA. DeBoer, Rachel, IL; DePriest, Amy, MO; Dornink, Melody, MN; Dudley, Juliana, PA; Dudley, Wesley, PA; Ehnis, Nathan, MI; Ehnis, Shannon, MI; Eng, Emily, NC; Eng, Michelle, NC; Estes, Autumn, FL; Estes, Curtis, FL; Estes, Daniel, FL. Estes, Mildred, FL; Farr, Roger, TX; Farr, Sue, TX; Freehan, Benjamin, WA; Feig, Joel, WI; Feig, Zachary, WI; Fernandez, Jonathan, CA; Fields, Jonelle, TX; Forsman, Camille, MN; Fox, Elizabeth, CA; Frahm, Jonathan, GA; Frahm, Laura, GA. Gamble, Allison, AL; Gay, Carissa, OR; Gilley, Rebekah, AL; Gillson, Kennan, MN; Gillson, Kirsten, MN; Greenwood, Karen, CT; Grier, Anna, GA; Grindall, Rachel, WA; Hanes, Austin, AL; Haueisen, Michelle, WA; Heath, Joshua, PA; Heath, Krystal, PA. Hilton, Alex, VA; Hollinger, Seanna, NE; Hubbard, Micah, AR; Hug, Ruth, WA; Hung, Daniel, CA; Hung, Rachel, CA; Hung, Rebecca, CA; Hung, Sharon, CA; Hynes, Joy, IN; Jefferies, Megan, MI; Johnson, Amanda, WI; Johnson, Rebekah, IL. Jorgensen, Andrew, PA; Jorgensen, Rachel, PA; Kallberg, Luke, IL; Kallberg, Naomi, IL; Krauter, Jocelyn, PA; Ku Isabelle, NJ; Kulp, Jarita, WI; LaLone, Douglas, PA; Langemann, Christy, CO; Lawrence, Ian, AL; Lehman, Regina, PA; Leskowat, Catherine, OK. Leskowat, Naomi, OK; Levendusky, Angie, OK; Levendusky, Dr. Tim, OK; Lewis, Mai, WI; Lindley, Jessica, IL; Lindley, Sarah, IL; Little, Lauren, NJ; Llewellyn, Chad, MD; Lukachick, Anna, LA; Lukachick, David, LA; Lyons, Hannah, IL. Lyons, Mary, IL; Lyons, Naomi, IL; Lyons, Roy, IL; Mally, Grace, IA; Mally, Harold, IA; Mally, Rebekah, IA; Mally, Sarah, IA; Mally, Stephen, IA; Malm, Ben, MN; Marshall, Dallas, OK; Marshall, Ezra, OK. Marshall, James, OK; Marshall, Johnathan, OK; Marshall, Louanne, OK; Marshall, Thaddaeus, OK; Mason, Christina, AR; Matchak, Jacob, CA; Mattix, George, IL; Mattix, Pattie, IL; McCray, Jo, AR; McCray, Dr. Kevin, AR. Meng, Christine, NC; Meng, Ethen, NC; Meng, Grace, NC; Meng, Justin, NC; Meng, Stephen, NC; Neu, Daniel, KS; Newhook, Andrew, PA; Newhook, Trevor, PA; Newhook, Tyler, PA; Nicholson, Benjamin, TX; Noland, Katerine, MA. O'Conner, Adam, LA; Payne, Ashia, MD; Payne, Nikolai, IA; Pennel, Corrie, DE; Peterson, Joy, FL; Phariss, Erik, TX; Phariss, Ken, TX; Phariss, Sacha, TX; Phariss, Susana, TX; Pierpont, Holly, MI; Plattner, Tessa, AZ. Randall, Erin, TX; Richmond, Kristen, OH; Ross, Charles, GA; Ross, Mary, GA; Ross, Rebecca, GA; Sachse, Jennifer, TX; Samaha, James, SC; Sanborn, Diane, FL; Sanders, Charity, AL; Sater, Jonathan, ID. Seale, Susanna, TX; Searle, Shawn, CA; Sellin, Tammy, KS; Shepherd, Gracie, GA; Sherrer, Katherine, NC; Shoemaker, Richard, OK; Simpson, Jerry, OH; Simpson, Nichole, OH; Snyder, Benjamin, MA; Staddon, Donald, WV; Steinbach, Jeff, CA. Stewart, Andrew, OH; Stewart, Lucas, OH; Stonecypher, Esther, IN; Stonecypher, Caleb, IN; Stonecypher, Debra, IN; Stonecypher, Elizabeth, IN; Stonecypher, Leah, IN; Stonecypher, Maurice, IN; Straub, Nathan, WA; Straub, Teresa, WA; Strickler, Ruth, PA. Sullivan, Andrei, NC; Sullivan, John David, NC; Sullivan, Roslyn, NC; Sullivan, Sarah, NC; Sullivan, Tom, NC; Taylor, Luisa, CA; Turner, Jane, GA; Vaccaro, Jeanette, MT; Van Ry, Sheralee, WA; Waller, Adam, IL. Waller, Brian, IL; Waller, David, IL; Waller, Derrick, IL; Waller, Lydia, IL; Waller, Matthew, IL; Waller, Rachelle, IL; Waller, Rebecca, IL; Waller, Samuel, IL; Waller, Sarah, IL; Waller, Sue, IL; Waterman, Kaylan, MI; Wenstrom, Angela, FL; Wenstrom, Brittany, FL. Wenstrom, Chris, FL; Wenstrom, James, FL; Wenstrom, Kimberly, FL; Wenstrom, Matthew, FL; Wenstrom, Michelle, FL; Whitten, Susannah, IN; Williams, Arnah, IN; Williams, Burton, CT; Williams, Sue, CT; Winkler, Kathryn, NY; Yaste, Alexander, IN; and Zaloum, Kristina, IN.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, American taxpayers ought not be footing the bill for sanctuary cities to serve as safe havens for illegal immigrants, especially hardened criminals. Sanctuary cities do not allow money or resources to be used to enforce Federal immigration laws. Police or other employees cannot inquire about immigration status. An example is San Francisco as a sanctuary city. I support the CLEAR Act authored by Marsha Blackburn. The act would empower local law enforcement agencies in the fight against illegal immigration. Under her bill, sanctuary cities would lose Federal crime funding unless local governments rescind the policies that prohibit local law enforcement from working with the Department of Homeland Security. Illegal immigrants know they are safe from deportation. If these cities refuse to enforce the law, especially when it comes to criminals, it ought to cost them. This is a first step, and I urge the House to move forward with this legislation. Americans deserve our full support.