Sam Johnson

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year National Save for Retirement Week is going to take place October 21st through the 27th. National Save for Retirement Week is the first congressionally endorsed, formal event publicly urging employers to promote the benefits of saving for retirement, and encourage their employees to take full advantage of employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans. Hopefully this week will make employees more aware of how critical it is to save now for their financial future and learn how to take advantage of free money when saving for retirement by contributing enough to the retirement plan to receive the company match. To learn more about National Save for Retirement Week, visit choosetosave.org. I urge you to take charge of your retirement now.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the current problems with mortgage and real estate markets are considerable, but they're not permanent. For the individuals and families who have gotten into trouble with inappropriate mortgages, I'm glad to see that their lenders are restructuring and writing down loans so people can move on with their lives. Taxation of phantom income is something I've fought for a long time. I have confidence in the American economy and in the fact that real estate markets will rebound. It's not a permanent problem. However, this bill puts permanent relief in place and sets up a system where there is permanent assumption of sliding home prices. Instead of a permanent problem, I believe it's a short-term problem worthy of being given emergency budget designation. This would allow this phantom income to remain untaxed, and to make it unnecessary for permanent tax increases to be imposed on other Americans. The tax increase the majority has chosen as an offset is a permanent luxury tax on one in 20 American families who own a second home. The Ways and Means Committee has a track record on luxury taxes, and it's not good. When the Democrats were last in the majority, they imposed a luxury tax on yachts and claimed that only the rich would pay the tax. The luxury tax on yachts really ended up being a tax on boats. It was a disaster tax on the American boat building industry and on marinas all over America. The luxury tax killed the yacht business, devastated an industry and was finally repealed with sincere regret. I fear this luxury tax on second homes will have the same effect as the luxury tax on yachts. Yet our friends, the Realtors, the bankers and the homebuilders all support the bill before us today because of the need for relief and mortgage debt forgiveness. It's clearly not a perfect bill. It should come back from conference with the Senate with only a temporary provision, then the luxury tax on second homes ought to no longer be necessary because it should be given the emergency budget designation it deserves.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force. Time and again, the brave men and women of the United States Air Force have answered the call of duty to serve and protect this great Nation. It's because of them that we have the best Air Force in the world, and they will continue to expand that legacy of true excellence and air dominance. As a 29-year Air Force veteran, it's my honor to congratulate them on 60 years of exemplary service and wish them many more years of air superiority to come. They all are shining examples of ``service before self,'' one core motto of the Air Force. They protect the safety and security of all U.S. citizens. As they say in our song, ``Nothing will stop the U.S. Air Force.'' God bless all the men and women of the United States Air Force. I salute you.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I must oppose this bill today, but I have got to make it clear that I do support children's health insurance. I believe this bill flat misses the mark. While well- intentioned, this legislation is a massive expansion of a government- run healthcare program that takes resources away from the very children it was meant to help. As ranking member of the Social Security Subcommittee on Ways and Means, I am deeply disturbed by the part of this bill that makes it easier for illegal immigrants to be covered under this program. In the last Congress, Republicans worked hard to ensure that everyone in this children's health program are really U.S. citizens. Because of that effort, States now require applicants to show documents like birth certificates, driver's licenses or passports in order to prove U.S. citizenship. This new legislation weakens this standard. All applicants would simply be asked to provide a Social Security number and a name that would then be verified by the Social Security Administration. This process is ripe for massive fraud and abuse that will leave American tax dollars paying for healthcare for illegal immigrants. In addition, we have the responsibility here in Congress to spend the taxpayer dollar wisely. I know my constituents don't want the Federal Government doling out billions of dollars to pay for illegal immigrants' health care. Congress should just pass a responsible extension of this important program before it expires, not play politics with our kids' health care. Americans deserve, want, and need for our children to have good health care, and we need to do it today.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of border agents Ramos and Compean, and I believe we should know why U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton has thumbed his nose at a House panel and refuses to testify on why he protected a Mexican drug smuggler over our own border agents. Johnny Sutton gave a confirmed drug runner free access to cross our border on condition he would not smuggle drugs again, but he has. Johnny Sutton found out the witness was running drugs, but still let him testify as an innocent victim. By allowing the drug runner to testify, Johnny Sutton let a known liar testify against our own border agents. Johnny Sutton must testify under oath why he did this. In view of this new evidence, President Bush should pardon Compean and Ramos today. They did not get a fair trial, and the punishment did not fit the crime. This case is a travesty to our justice system. Fix it, Mr. President.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the prestigious independent school districts in Collin County, Texas, for their sterling reputation and superior education. Forbes Magazine, long-time experts on all things money, recently ranked the public schools in Collin County as second in the entire Nation for the best education for your dollar. What a tremendous distinction. The students' overall average score was 1102 on the college entrance exam, and the schools boast a 92.2 percent graduation rate. This demonstrates that knowledgeable teachers, community pride, parental involvement and top-quality schools are all working together to achieve academic success. I want to personally commend the cities of Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Plano and Wylie and their independent school districts for this exceptional award and national recognition for what they do best, teaching our kids and making the future of Texas and the United States even brighter. Congratulations to all concerned.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, you know Americans are rightly worried about the security of their personal information, including their Social Security number. Practically a day doesn't go by when we don't read about or hear about another data breach in the private or public sector where hundreds if not thousands of people's personal identity information is stolen. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, the total number of known records that have been compromised since January 2005 through last week was over 158 million. The fact is that even though Social Security numbers were created to track earnings for determining eligibility and benefit amounts under Social Security, these numbers are widely used as personal identifiers. According to the Government Accountability Office, Social Security numbers have become the ``identifier of choice'' and are used for every day business transactions. In fact, in their April 2007 report, the President's Identity Theft Task Force identified the Social Security number as the ``most valuable commodity for an identity thief.'' These thieves are hard at work. According to the latest data provided by Federal Trade Commission, over a one year period nearly 10 million people, or about 5 percent of the adult population, discovered they were victims of identity theft. Even worse, the true number of victims of this devastating crime is unknown, since most victims do not report the crime. Losses due to ID thefts have been estimated to exceed $50 billion annually. Victims spend roughly 300 million hours a year trying to re- establish their hard-earned credit and clearing their good name. Even worse, identity theft continues to threaten our national security. As said in the 9/11 Commission Report, ``Fraud in identification documents is no longer just a problem of theft. At many entry points to vulnerable facilities, including gates for boarding aircraft, sources of identification are the last opportunity to ensure that people are who they say they are and to check whether they are terrorists.'' The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security has been working on a bipartisan basis to protect the privacy of Social Security numbers and prevent identity theft since the 106th Congress when it first approved the Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2000, to restrict the sale and public display of Social Security numbers. This legislation was introduced on a bipartisan basis by then Subcommittee Chairman Clay Shaw and then Ranking Member, the late Bob Matsui. Today, we continue that bipartisan effort to help stop the rampant use of Social Security numbers as I join the Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, Mike McNulty, to introduce the ``Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2007.'' This bill achieves three critical goals. First, it would limit access to SSNs in the public and private sector by restricting their sale, purchase, and public display, including display on the Internet. Second, the bill would protect individuals by prohibiting persons from obtaining SSNs to find a person with the intent to physically injure or harm them. Finally the bill would enforce these restrictions through civil and criminal penalties for violations. Providing for uses of Social Security numbers that benefit the public while protecting their privacy is a complex balancing act. This bill achieves that balance. It is long past time for Congress to act to help stop the widespread use of Social Security numbers, help prevent ID theft, and further protect American's privacy. I urge all my colleagues to sponsor this important bipartisan legislation.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, many are grieving the death of Officer Dayle Weston Hardy. The 9-year veteran of the Plano Police Department leaves behind a wife and 3-year-old twin girls. He died in the line of duty shortly after he was hit by a car while in pursuit of a traffic violator. His sudden and unfortunate death reminds us of the crucial role first responders play and the courage and selflessness they exhibit while protecting the American people and keeping our vibrant North Texas community safe. Wes impacted the lives of many people and he will be dearly missed. He is the second police officer in Plano to die in the line of duty, the first one since 1920. His death has truly rocked the area. To his family--please know that Shirley and I grieve Officer Hardy's death. We grieve for you. We grieve with you. And we lift you and your daughters up in prayer. Wes was a shining example of public service and inspiring courage. God bless him and God bless America.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. You know, we shouldn't even be discussing surrender in Iraq today because 2 months ago today, three American soldiers were captured in Iraq. Tragically, the body of Private First Class Anzack was found a few days later in the river. DOD has changed the status of Specialist Jimenez and Private Fouty from unknown to missing/captured. Considering that the military found their IDs in an al Qaeda safe house, I'm sure they're being mistreated. And I hope and pray that they can stay alive until we can rescue them. As a former prisoner of war for nearly 7 years in Vietnam, I know what these guys are going through. We must find them, and we must bring them home. Naysayers in Washington should not be talking about pulling the plug on our troops in Iraq when we have our own men missing in action who need to be rescued.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, this past Monday on the 57th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and I introduced legislation to rightfully honor Korean War veterans with a national charter. The charter pays no money but gives veterans leverage when dealing with the VA. It is about time those who served in the Korean War enjoy the same mark of distinction and national recognition as those who came home from World War II. Some have dubbed the Korean War the ``forgotten war'' or even ``the war that America forgot to remember.'' You know, I was in that war, and so were at least two of our colleagues, Charlie Rangel and John Conyers, and I think that it is kind of ridiculous that we haven't given them the recognition they deserve. I flew over 62 combat missions in Korea, and I can't think of a better way to honor our patriots who served in Korea. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor our bill, H.R. 2852, to give the Korean War Veterans Association a national charter.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of National Save for Retirement Week that will be celebrated during the week of October 21 to 27 this year. Our national savings rate is abysmal. Despite our best efforts, there are fewer traditional pension plans every year. The costs associated with retiree health continue to skyrocket, and the Social Security and Medicare board of trustees have long warned us that without change, Social Security and Medicare will be unable to pay future promised benefits. However, there is one bright spot for Americans who have employer-based retirement savings plans. We all know and love the 401(k) plan and its cousins, the 403(b) and the 457. These plans make it possible for Americans to take charge of their own financial future by putting away savings for retirement in a convenient, safe and well- performing manner. For far too many people, there is too much month left at the end of their paycheck and they just don't get around to putting away money for their own retirement. With a 401(k) plan, the money for retirement is set aside before the other bills get paid. The paycheck that they bring home is then available for life's daily needs, while the money for retirement is going to work with compound interest. You know, Einstein said the most powerful force on Earth is the power of compound interest. For Americans who set aside part of their paycheck for a 401(k), the power of compound interest helps them pave their way to retirement. Another great benefit of saving at work is that in most cases, the employer is going to match some of the amount saved. To the extent that an employer will match, for instance, the first 5 percent of your salary, that's a 100 percent rate of return on those savings. If someone who makes $50,000 a year saves $2,500, the employer will match it with another $2,500. That's free money. So the employee starts out at a 100 percent rate of return. If the market performs as it traditionally has and returns an average of 8 percent a year, the employee's money doubles again every 10 years. So for an additional set-aside of $2,500, in 10 years, that employee is likely to have $10,000. That's powerful. During the week of October 21 to 27, everyone who plays a role in retirement will be called to action. All the companies that sponsor retirement plans, all the companies that do the work to administer these plans, financial consultants and groups like the Employee Benefit Research Institute that runs the Choose to Save campaign are encouraged to bring this powerful message to more people. In the clutter of everyday life, we are bombarded with advertisements for everything from breakfast cereal to fast cars. Advertisements for retirement savings don't always break through the clutter. Again, our negative savings rate goes to show that. Our support of the National Save for Retirement Week today will help that message break through, as communities across our great Nation join in a concerted, week-long effort to teach Americans the importance of saving. I urge all my colleagues to join Representative Schwartz and me in passing this legislation so that more and more Americans can choose to save. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is a tremendous honor to salute our soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen of tomorrow--the service academy-bound students of the Third District of the Texas. This Congressional District is home to some of the best and the brightest young people. They are eager and ready to join the premier military force of the world. It is a privilege to send such fine young people on to our Nation's prestigious service academies. We lift them and their families up in prayer for their future service and sacrifices. I am so very proud of them. God bless them and God bless America. I salute them. The name of each appointee and hometown follows: United States Air Force Academy: Madison Schottleuther--McKinney; Taylor Soster--Allen; Grace St. Clair--Allen; Stephanie Stanford-- Plano; Drew Warwick--Plano; Michael Willcox--McKinney; Evan Wise-- Plano. United States Merchant Marine Academy: Bryce Doganer--Plano; F. Wade (Fred) Wheeler--Plano. United States Military Academy: Audrey Hansen--Plano; Kane Kimrey-- Rowlett; Anne Nagy--McKinney; Ryan Schubert--Plano; Tianyi Xin--Plano. United States Naval Academy: Erik DeSousa--Plano; Gregory Harrell-- Plano; Philip Niche--McKinney; Melanie Pribich--Plano; Ryan Szymaniak-- McKinney.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, you know, it's not every day the House gets to consider a bipartisan, commonsense bill that's affordable. This doesn't cost anything and supports our service men and women overseas. However, I'm happy to say this is one of those days. Right now the law prevents a Medicare physician from leaving his practice for more than 60 days at a time. And the regulation was created to prevent fraud, but it had the unintended effect of making life more difficult for someone that's called up to serve his country. And this bill eliminates the red tape by allowing our reservists to have one substitute doctor for their entire deployment. Not only will the bill help our reservists, it'll prevent Medicare beneficiaries from experiencing a gap in service or losing access to care altogether. And I want to thank my colleague from California for bringing this problem to my attention, I'm surprised we hadn't had it brought to our attention before, and for all the work you and your staff have done to get the bill to the floor today. Those who serve our country and their communities need and want our assistance, and it's time we helped our weekend warriors who happen to be doctors to keep their patients and keep their practice. This is a great bill, and I appreciate the time. I thank Mr. Kucinich for providing us the opportunity.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Yes.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Let me just correct one thing. The staff tells me Mr. Rangel did call our committee yesterday at 10 o'clock in the morning on this bill. So the Ways and Means Committee was informed.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, did you know that the Nation's border agents have no confidence in their top chief? These men and women are on the front lines of illegal immigration. They want, need, and deserve strong leadership. Recently, the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing the country's 11,000 nonsupervisory border agents, announced it had cast a unanimous no-confidence vote in U.S. Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar. The vote comes as two border agents sit in jail for doing their jobs, combating illegal immigration. If you are as outraged as I am about the unjust persecution of law enforcement agents, go to pardontheagents.com and sign an on-line petition urging President Bush to pardon Agents Ramos and Compean.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I pay tribute to Cpl Tyler Seth Trovillion, USMC. Corporal Trovillion, a 23-year-old resident of Richardson, Texas, answered his country's call and paid the ultimate price. He belonged to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon of Camp Pendleton, California. He died on June 15, 2005, when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Ar Ramadi, Iraq. We Texans are so proud of the men and women we have serving in Iraq and appreciate their dedication to defending freedom and promoting democracy. To his family, our prayers are with you, and we are grateful for Tyler's courage and service to the United States of America. As President Ronald Reagan once said, ``Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.'' Tyler, God bless you and God bless America. Semper Fidelis.

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 Russia, Mongolia, Romania, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and China. 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 whom they serve. Aguilar, Dominique (CA), Alexander, Evangeline (AK), Anderson, Cassia (MI), Anderson, Daniel (TX), Apple, Alexandra (NC), Apple, John (NC), Archer, Amos (KS). Bailey, Deanna (CA), Bair, Aileen (IL), Bair, Robert (IL), Baldwin, Charity (VA), Barb, Joanna (CA), Barclay, Tiffany (OR), Barker, Emily (GA), Bartlow, Joel (TX), Beaulieu, Anna (MN), Beaulieu, David (MN), Behrens, Katherine (MI), Bender, Anthony (CA), Bender, Steven (CA), Bennett, Erika (GA), Bennett, Russell (IL), Bisson, Shannon (OH), Bode, Leah (VA), Bogner, Melanie (TX), Booth, Paul (GA), Bousfield, Leah (CA), Bracey, Danielle (CA), Bracey, Michelle (CA), Brannon, Jolene (TX), Brink, Julia (GA), Brown, James (NY), Brown, Sarah (NY), Brown, Timothy (NY), Brown, Zachary (NY), Brubaker, David (PA), Brubaker, Emily (PA), Brubaker, Jeni (PA), Brubaker, Leon (PA), Brubaker, Luke (PA), Brubaker, Mary (PA), Bruccoleri, Berea (CA), Burrus, Anthony (TX), Burrus, Lula (TX), Bylsma, Katrina (KS). Cade, Alton (MS), Cade, Laura (MS), Cahill, Amy (TX), Cahill, Laura (TX), Cavanaugh, Daniel (KY), Cavanaugh, Micah (KY), Chamberlain, Sarah (IN), Chen, Anna (NY), Chen, Dr. Stephen (NY), Chen, Faith (NY), Chen, Grace (NY), Chen, Karen (NY), Chen, Timothy (NY), Cheng, Shiowei (MD), Clawson, Laura (MN), Coffing, Dominique (NM), Coggin, Hannah (VA), Cole, Leslie (OK), Conzatti, Dena (WA), Cook, Tim (SC), Copu, Carmen (IL), Copu, Paul (IL), Copu, Peter (IL), Copu, Rebecca (IL), Copu, Stefana (IL), Copu, Valen (IL), Copu, Victor (IL), Cribb, Laura (NC), Curtis, Anna (MI), Cyrus, Lauren (MI). Daniel, Sheri (GA), Davis, Andy (VA), DeBoer, Rachel (IL), DeMasie, Laura (IN), Derhammer, Rebecca (OH), DeVall, Adrian (FL), Dickey, Allison (CA), Dickey, Darlene (CA), Dickie, Russell (KS), Dickson, Christina (WA), Dicus, Bonnie (CA), Dicus, Carrie (CA), Dicus, Melinda (CA), Dodd, Lindsay (GA), Dodson, Aaron (MD), Driggers, Noah (TX), Dudley, Crystal (TX), Durocher, Susan (MN). Eng, Emily (NC), Estes, Autumn (FL), Estes, Curtis (FL), Estes, Daniel, (FL), Estes, Mildred (FL). Faas, Josiah (MN), Farr, Katie (TX), Feehan, Benjamin (WA), Feig, Joel (WI), Feig, Zach (WI), Felber, Britton (IL), Felber, Shane (IL), Fernandez, Jonathan (CA), Fernandez, Rachel (CA), Fessenden, Jonathan (TX), Fisher, Sarah (RI), Fisher, Zachariah (RI), Fiskeaux, Christy (AK), Fite, Caty (AR), Fite, Joshua (AR), Foulke, Laura (NC), Foulke, Sarah (NC), Fowler, Robert (IL), Fox, David (CA), Fox, Elizabeth (CA), Furlong, Rebecca (TX). Gay, Carissa (OR), George, Malia (NC), George, Theresa (NC), Gilley, Rebekah (AL), Gillson, Kennan (MN), Gillson, Kirsten (MN), Goodwin, Joshua (CT), Greenlaw, Paula (OK), Greenlaw, Robert (OK), Grindall, Rachel (WA). Hammond, Josie (IL), Hartstrom, Melissa (CA), Heath, Joshua (PA), Hierholzer, Jenell (IN), Hildebrandt, Rachel (TX), Hinton, Matthew (VA), Hodgdon, Benjamin (CA), Hodgdon, Loriann (CA), Hooley, Sarah (IN), Hope, Jon-Eric (AR), Houser, Cameron (CA), Howell, Bethany (PA), Howell, Tamarind (PA), Hubbard, Dana (AL), Hubbard, Melissa (CA), Hug, Ruthie (WA), Hung, Rachel (CA), Hung, Rebecca (CA). Jacobsen, Elizabeth (CA), Jefferies, Megan (MI), Johnson, Benjamin (IN), Johnson, Charles (LA), Jones, Sadie (AL), Jones, Stacie (TX), Jordan, Mark (CA), Jordan, Paul (WA), Jorgensen, Andrew (PA), Joyner, Rebecca (NC), Joyner, Sara (NC). Kallberg, Luke (IL), Kallberg, Naomi (IL), Kinsel, Hannah (IL), Kinz, Carol (CA), Knudsen, Kathleen (MI), Ko, Benjamin (MI), Kraft, Anna (CA), Krauter, Jocelyn (PA), Kruse, Tim (IN), Kulp, Jarita (WI). Langemann, Christy (CO), Lassiter, Michelle (TX), Laughlin, Rebekah (PA), Lehman, Regina (PA), Lentz, Sarah (WI), Lerma, Aaron (TX), Leskowat, Catherine (OK), Leskowat, Naomi (OK), Lewis, Mai Cha (WI), Lindley, Jessica (IL), Lindley, Sarah (IL), Little, Lauren (NJ), Long, Mary Sarah (TX), Lorenz, Rebekah (TX), Lukachick, Anna (LA), Lyons, Naomi (IL). Madison, Lauren (PA), Madison, Nicole (PA), Madison, Norman (PA), Main, Michelle (NC), Marshall, Dallas (AR), Marshall, Ezra (AR), Marshall, James (AR), Marshall, Jonathan (AR), Marshall, Kymberly (AR), Marshall, Louanne (AR), Marshall, Thaddaeus (AR), Martens, Brooke (MI), Martens, Lee Ann (MI), Martens, Tiffany (MI), Martin, Anna (PA), Martin, Maria (PA), Martin-Vegue, Timothy (CA), Matchak, Jacob (CA), Matchak, Joel (CA), Matchak, Josiah (CA), Matchak, Nathan (CA), Matchak, Sarah (CA), McAllister, Carlyn (NC), McCloy, Jennifer (TX), McCraw, Sarah (OR), McCurdy, Terry (IL), McEndarfer, Christina (OK), McEndarfer, Daniel (OK), McMains, Amy (AZ), Melvin, Brent (FL), Melvin, Thomas (FL), Miller, Jeanne (PA), Miller, Kate (TX), Miller, Mary Frances (CA), Miller, Teresa (CO), Molina, Leah (IN), Molina, Matthew (IN), Moll, James (PA), Mullen, Jessica (MN), Mullen, Michael (MN), Myers, Vanessa (IN). Nelson, Stephen (TX), Neu, Daniel (KS), Nikoforovna, Ksenya (WA), Noland, Katherine (MA), Noland, Margaret (MA), Norcross, Brianne (IN), Norris, Kaleb (CA), Norris, Tyler (CA), Nugent, Tiara (TX). O'Conner, Adam (LA). Parker, Marty (IL), Parker, Thomas (IL), Payne, Nikolai (IA), Perez, Kimberly (TX), Phariss, Erik (CA), Phariss, Kenneth (CA), Phariss, Sacha (CA), Phariss, Susana (CA), Pierpont, Charles (IL), Pierpont, Daniel (IL), Pierpont, Hannah (IL), Pierpont, Heidi (IL), Pierpont, Holly (IL), Pierpont, Hope (IL), Pierpont, Ken (IL), Pierpont, Lois (IL), Pierpont, Wesley (IL), Povich, Jocelyn (MI), Powell, Jonathan (DC), Powell, Matthew (MI), Price, Alisa (TX) Protz, Annie (CA), Protz, Jane (CA), Pulliam, Christa (GA). Quinnett, Sara (TX). Ramsey, Jeffrey (OH), Ramsey, Jordan (OH), Randall, Erin (TX), Rasmussen, Courtney (CA), Rebelez, Jaimie (CA), Reidsema, Lennae (PA), Richmond, Kristen (OH), Riddell, Kelly (TX), Riddell, Tara (TX), Ritchie, Nathaniel (IN), Robertson, Adam (AL), Robertson, Anthony (AL), Robertson, Ashley (AL), Robertson, Linda (AL), Robertson, Michael (AL), Rodriguez, Cristina (IL), Rodriguez, Jordan (IL), Rodriguez, Joshua (IL), Rodriguez, Judah (IL), Rogers, Jonathan (LA), Ross, Ashely (CO), Ross, Charles (GA), Ross, Mary (GA), Ross, Melinda (MI), Ross, Rebecca (GA), Ross, Richie (CO), Ross, Robert (CO), Roth, Philip (WA), Rowland, Jaime (WA), Rudge, Bethany (TN). Sachse, Jennifer (MO), Sanborn, Chrissy (FL), Sanborn, Diane (FL), Sanders, Charity (AL), Sauer, Rebecca (TX), Scarborough, Amy (TX), Schweickert, Molly (CA), Seale, Susanna (TX), Sherrer, Katherine (NC), Sherwin, Todd (CO), Shinabarger, Rebekah (IN), Shipley, Daniel (IN), Shipley, Joshua (IN), Shipley, Paula (IN), Shoemaker, Gail (IN), Shoemaker, Kari (IN), Shoemaker, Woody (IN), Shrum, Samuel (MO), Simpson, Nichole (OH), Sirpless, Gina (MN), Smillie, Evan (IN), Souther, Jonathan (NC), Sowash, Jenna (MI), Stallings, Grayson (CO), Stallings, Preston (CO), Stearn, Elizabeth (IL), Stearn, Michelle (IL), Stewart, Andrew (OH), Stewart, Lucas (OH), Stonecypher, Caleb (IN), Stonecypher, Debra (IN), Stonecypher, Elizabeth (IN), Stonecypher, Esther (IN), Stonecypher, Leah (IN), Stonecypher, Maurice (IN), Strickler, Ruth (PA), Stutzman, Julie (OH), Sullivan, Andrei (NC), Sullivan, John David (NC), Sullivan, Roslyn (NC), Sullivan, Sarah (NC), Sullivan, Tom (NC), Sutton, Barbara (MT), Swicegood, Rebekah (AR). Taylor, Luisa (CA), Tijerina, Andrew (CO), Turner, Jane (GA), Turner, Terry (IL). Wahl, Isaiah (OR), Walding, Atalie (TX), Waller, Adam (WI), Waller, Brian (WI), Waller, David (WI), Waller, Derrick (WI), Waller, Rachelle (WI), Waller, Sarah (WI), Waller, Sue (WI), Walsh, Caleb (FL), Walsh, Candace (FL), Walsh, Catherine (FL), Walsh, Cathy (FL), Walsh, Daniel (FL), Walsh, Joshua (FL), Walsh, Pat (FL), Walsh, Ryan (FL), Waltman, Darleen (TX), Watkins, Elizabeth (CA), Welfel, Amanda (TX), Wenstrom, Angie (FL), Wenstrom, Brittany (FL), Wenstrom, Chris (FL), Wenstrom, James (FL), Wenstrom, Kimberly (FL), Wenstrom, Matthew (FL), Wenstrom, Michelle (FL), White, Elizabeth (FL), White, Michael (FL), Whitten, Manoah (IN), Whitten, Susannah (IN), Wilson, Joanna (WY), Wilson, Rachael (WY), Winkler, Kathryn (NY), Yates, Jared (FL), Yates, Kyle (FL).

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, last fall roughly 100 high school students applied to serve on the Third Congressional District's Congressional Youth Advisory Council. A panel of community leaders nominated 43 high school students attending public, private and home schools based on academic achievement, community service, student leadership, outside interests, and the application essay. These 43 have done an outstanding job serving as the voice of their generation. I fondly call this distinguished group ``young ambassadors to Congress.'' Civil service among young adults remains the cornerstone of our future. These dynamic students are leaders of their peers and achievers in and out of the classroom. They are the future of America and hold tremendous promise. They sacrificed their time to boldly share their hopes and their dreams for our Nation. They should be proud of their commitment and commended for their work. This year, the members of the CYAC wrote a patriotic essay detailing, ``My dream for America'' or ``The cost of freedom.'' The country and the Congress must know that high school students in North Texas firmly believe in this mighty Nation and express great optimism for the future. I gladly entrust it to them--the leaders of tomorrow. Their names are listed forever in the Congressional Record. Their country needs them to stand up, speak out, and continue to make a difference in their communities. They are the young leaders who help make America great. God bless you, God bless Texas and God bless America. Freshmen: James ``Wil'' Callison and Ian Webber. Sophomores: John Lipscomb, Evan Rosenfield, Sharan Shetty, and Mellissa Stepczyk. Juniors: Caroline Alvarez, Morgan Bailey, Anna Bashmakov, Susie Choi, Abigail Dekle, Patrick Dyer, John Hollingsworth, Emily Kaufman, Kristy Luk, James MacGibbon, Charlie Manion, Meredith Morgan, Jason Palmatary, David Paxman, Andrew Pedigo, Nirjhor Rahman, and Spencer Wood. Seniors: Lynzee Benoit, Yoojin Cho, Alyssa DeLorenz, Erik De Sousa, Andrew Graham, Luke Gunderson, Kelli Lafferty, Amanda Lipscomb, David Michael McCleary, Brendan O'Kelly, Benjamin Oppenheim, Rachel Reichenbach, Catherine Russell, Elizabeth Sanford, Jordan Schmittou, Hannah Sedlet, Hansini Sharma, Jennifer Smart, Britney Thomas, and Evan Wise.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, most of us just returned from 2 weeks talking with constituents. In the Third District of Texas, folks only had one thing on their mind, illegal immigration. They were hopping mad that illegal immigrants come into this country at all. They told me any proposal that would grant automatic American citizenship to illegal immigrants would be blanket amnesty, and they're right. People have waited years to become American citizens through the legal proper channels. Granting blanket amnesty to untold millions of illegal immigrants undercuts the merits of creating a legal citizenship program. Just like in the 1980s, if we grant amnesty now, many more illegal immigrants will simply flock into our country and demand their day for amnesty. America must be a Nation that respects the rule of law and enforces it.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I rise today in support of the amended version of H.R. 1562. During the Committee debate on this bill I raised concerns about the revenue offset used to pay for this legislation. The original bill would have permitted the IRS to seize the assets of a taxpayer prior to a hearing. The provision was scored as raising $240 million. The reason for the change was that there are some taxpayers who are serial abusers of the payroll tax withholding mechanism who needed to be shut down to prevent a drain on revenues. The problem is that we cannot begin to close the tax gap at the expense of basic civil liberties. We would have a taxpayer revolt at such heavy-handed tactics. Congress put in place many taxpayer protections against heavy-handed IRS tactics and I think we need to be very careful as we contemplate rolling back any of them in the name of closing the ``tax gap.'' The amended bill before us now would go after the serial abusers of the payroll tax system. It would require that if someone has already been through the hearing process in the last two years, then they don't get to keep scamming the tax system. They cannot hide behind the protections meant for taxpayers who have simply made a mistake in filing payroll taxes for their employees. The protection of having a hearing prior to IRS seizure of assets is important in many circumstances. One of the leading reasons for this protection is innocent spouse relief. If a husband messes up his company's payroll taxes in one quarter, the Committee approved bill and the version already approved by the other body, would have allowed the IRS to seize his wife's assets and give her no ability to claim innocent spouse relief until roughly eight months after the seizure. I don't think this is good policy and I think it is a lousy way to close the ``tax gap.'' I commend Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member McCrery for working to be sure that these situations are addressed by the amendment we have worked out. I hope that whenever the House and Senate put this revenue raiser into a final agreement later this year, that the House version prevails. Again, I support the version of this legislation that we are debating on the House floor today and I want to personally thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for working so hard to address these concerns.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you, Members. Nancy, John, David, I appreciate you all. I rise today in support of a clean emergency spending bill for our troops, but this one is all smoke and mirrors. We must give our men and women in uniform everything they need to thwart the insurgency in Iraq and come home safely and soon. You know, we can't tie the hands of the guys on the ground with time lines or benchmarks. And, worse, we shouldn't be using the emergency troop spending bill as the way to finance the political gimmickry of special interest projects. It is just exasperating that the Democrat leaders have turned the emergency troop spending bill into a pork barrel project giveaway. This bill gives piles of money to shrimpers, spinach farmers, and peanut storage. You know, what does throwing money at Bubba Gump, Popeye the Sailorman, and Mr. Peanut have to do with winning a war? Nothing. The special interest projects added to increase the likelihood of this bill passing are really an insult to the troops who want, need, and deserve our full support. The Democrats are trying to buy the majority vote today one pork project at a time, perhaps because the majority does not support their slow bleed surrender strategy. Since the President announced his new plan for Iraq in January, there has been measured, steady progress. He changed the rules of engagement and removed political protections. Coalition forces nabbed more than 50 suspects and dismantled a bomb factory in Iraq over the past few days. Coalition forces in Iraq detained seven suspects with reported ties to foreign fighter groups. In Ramadi, troops nabbed four other suspects with alleged ties to al Qaeda. In Mosul, coalition forces captured a former paramilitary leader who allegedly is responsible for setting up al Qaeda terrorist training camps in Iraq and Syria. During another operation, troops captured a suspected terrorist with alleged ties to al Qaeda car bomb and assassination cells. We must seize this opportunity to move forward and not stifle future success and harm troop morale. More importantly, I want to know, how many of you have ever asked your constituents, Do you want to lose in Iraq? I think if you ask that question, do you want to lose in Iraq, Americans will wholeheartedly say no. We have smart, strong men and women serving in Iraq, and they need our help, and they need the full support of their country and their Congress. Our troops don't need 435 generals in Washington declaring, we will send you money for bullets, but we won't send you bulletproof vests. Our troops don't need folks in suits sitting in wood paneled rooms on Capitol Hill saying, we will send you armored tanks, but we won't send you gas. Literally, this bill forces our guys on the ground to fight a war with one arm tied behind their backs. That just smacks of defeat. Most of you in the Chamber know that I spent nearly 7 years as a prisoner in Vietnam, more than half of that time in solitary. Well, that was during my second tour in Vietnam. During my first tour, I worked for General Westmoreland at MAC-V Headquarters, that is the Military Assistance Command Vietnam. While working late at night, we had a bunch of men involved in the first real hand-to-hand combat using bayonets. You may remember that, John. That was war. It turns out someone sent back footage to Washington that would match the opening scene of ``Saving Private Ryan.'' In the middle of the night, the red phone rang and I answered it. I heard an earful that is not fit for this House Chamber, something like, This is the White House. What the heck is going on over there? I replied, I'll wake up General Westmoreland. They slammed the phone down and hung up. That was the control they had over our guys. Starting in 1965, we had folks in Washington trying to tell the generals how to run things on the ground in Vietnam. A generation ago, we saw what happens when you stop the funding and America stiffs its friends. As a matter of fact, we all know just this morning Iran captured 15 British sailors. This bill prevents us from responding from Kuwait to help our strong allies of British in an emergency. We show weakness, and the world knows it. Just think back to the dark day in history when we saw visions of American marines airlifting Vietnamese out of the U.S. embassy. You remember that. That is what happens when America makes a commitment; Congress cuts the funding, and we go home with our tails between our legs. The brave marines who died on that day in 1975 while innocent people desperately clung to life on a rope tied to a helicopter are a testimony to what happens when Congress cuts the funding and we leave without finishing the job. We can't let that happen again. And I don't think any of you on either side in this Chamber wants that to happen. Frankly, we all want our troops to come home, when the job is done. We want to win. Internationally announcing our timelines for withdrawal literally hands the enemy our war plan and gives them hope that they will win if they just wait it out. What world superpower would do such a thing? We are the United States of America. We are the premier military force on the globe. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave. Surely we do not go around announcing to the world how we will conduct and win a war. Surrendering is not an option, and neither do I think abandoning our troops is an option. Look around you. We are all America. Do you want to lose in Iraq? Voting to set a hard exit date for U.S. troops in Iraq and imposing strict standards for deploying forces gives hope to the enemy, and it is a prescription for failure. Worse, forcing Members of Congress to decide on this issue when the bill is cluttered with excess money for spinach and peanuts is abhorrent, infuriating, and ill-advised. My dear colleagues, if you really want to debate the merits of a time withdrawal, give each Member in Congress an up or down vote so we can vote our conscience. The sweeteners in this bill are political bribery, and our troops deserve more than this. Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot abandon our men and women in uniform for politically charged benchmarks wrapped up in fat-cat constituent projects. If we learned anything from the brave Marines who died trying to save innocent people that day at the embassy in Vietnam, and John, you know this, it is that the marines never quit. Neither should we.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, you know, in Texas we have a phrase for folks who talk big game and fail to deliver. We call it ``all sizzle and no steak.'' That's sort of how I view the Members of Congress who claim they support our men and women in uniform, but fail to back permanent legislation that says Congress will fully fund our troops serving in harm's way. Their actions don't match their words. If Members really support the brave men and women in our armed services, Members would make sure our men and women in combat have the bullets and tanks and helmets, whatever they need. That is why today I am launching a discharge petition on my bill to fully fund all our troops in harm's way. The Democrats can't hide behind their slow-bleed strategy forever. We need a floor vote to make the entire Congress go on record for or against our troops.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you, I appreciate that. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the effort to straggle employee free choice. This bill will strip individual workers of their right to vote anonymously when deciding to be involved in a union or not. Taking away this privacy right will subject workers to coercion and abuse. As the former chairman of the Employee-Employer Relations Subcommittee, I studied this issue for the last 6 years. And I want to tell you this bill will replace private ballot union elections with the interfere card check system. This means that a union could simply organize if a tiny majority of the workers sign a card. When truth be told, a worker might vote differently if given the option of the sacredly held practice of secret ballot. This would dramatically change the way small businesses operate, run from the outside by a union, and would have a devastating impact on the small business community. Card checks can be conducted so quickly that mom and pop employers rarely have a chance to address employees during an organizing campaign, resulting in a one-sided discussion between union and an employee. This vote is a Democrat way of paying back the labor unions for bankrolling their win in November. Over $2 million to the top Democrats. Small business owners are trying to live out the American Dream, which just so happens to be fueling our economy. This bill forces them to do away with the longstanding freedom of voting by secret ballot. We can't let this happen to America.