Walter Jones

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today is 324 days of incarceration for two former U.S. Border Patrol agents. Agents Ramos and Compean were convicted in March of 2006 for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border into Texas. These two decorated Border Patrol agents, who were doing their duty to protect the American people from an illegal alien drug smuggler, are serving 11- and 12-year prison sentences. This week, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans began hearing oral arguments for the agents' appeal. During the hearing, one of the three judges on the case, Judge E. Grady Jolly, said, ``It does seem to me that the government overreacted here. For some reason, this one got out of hand.'' The judges in this appeal will need to examine why the judge allowed the smuggler to plead the fifth amendment despite his immunity agreement, and why the jury was not allowed to hear crucial evidence that the smuggler was a repeat offender. The judges will also need to look at why the prosecutor charged the agents under a statute that was intended for violent criminals carrying guns, not for law enforcement officers acting in the line of duty. Nothing can erase the suffering these agents have undergone and the months they have spent in prison in solitary confinement away from their families. However, a judgment in favor of Ramos and Compean in this appeal would be an important victory and the first act of justice these agents have seen since their arrest. Mr. Speaker, the injustice of this case should not go unexamined. Last night, I hand-delivered a letter to John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to request a hearing on this case. Chairman Conyers responded that he would carefully review my letter and my request. In the eyes of the American people, the prosecution of these border agents was not justified. The comments by the appeals judge are justification enough for the House Judiciary Committee to review this case to determine exactly why this case got out of hand. An unbiased review of this case by Attorney General Mukasey, a hearing by the House Judiciary Committee, and a Presidential pardon for these agents are all steps that can and should be taken to rectify this gross miscarriage of justice. Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the family of these two border agents, Compean and Ramos, that we in Congress will not give up the fight for justice until their loved ones are at home.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. I thank the gentleman from California. Like others before me, I want to say to Mr. Rangel and to Mr. Levin, to Mr. McCrery and others on our side, thank you for working on this trade agreement. Absolutely I am opposed to it. I have been here for 14 years and for 14 years I have seen the American worker become less than a middle-class person and just trying to pay the bills. I don't know how with this Peru Free Trade Agreement that we can believe we are going to do a whole lot to help with the trade deficit of this nation, with the lost jobs of so many Americans. The United States has lost more than 3.1 million jobs since 2001. The United States is projected to run a trade deficit of over $200 billion with China. We even have a trade deficit with Mexico. Where in the world is this country going? I said yesterday to a friend of mine, ``I'm afraid we are in the last days of a great nation. When the basic Judeo-Christian values begin to crumble, the economy begins to fall apart, where is America going?'' This is not the right trade bill. We could have the right trade bill, just like we should have had with CAFTA. We almost defeated CAFTA on this floor but lost it by five or six votes. Peru has less than one- tenth of the U.S. population, and more than 50 percent of all Peruvians live in poverty. Mr. Speaker, it is absurd to expect Peru to become a major consumer of U.S. finished products. If we really want to do something for America, why don't we do what is necessary and say to China, stop manipulating your currency to combat the predatory practices of trading partners like China; pass legislation to eliminate the $379 billion disadvantage to U.S. producers and service providers caused by foreign VAT taxes. That is something we should be working on. Ensure the safety of foreign-made products sold to the United States from toys to food. We really need to do those kind of things before we start passing these trade agreements that some fat cat somewhere is going to make big bucks while the workers of America continue to go downhill and worry about paying their utility bills, paying for their children to go to school, paying the gasoline prices. Mr. Speaker, one other point and then I am going to close. I am a conservative Republican. I have believed for so long that we could come together and we could work together for the good of the American people, that we are losing the middle class in America. And a lot of that loss is simply because of good-paying jobs. Mr. Speaker, I know we will not defeat this, but I pray to God that we will not forgot America's strength, and America's strength is the workers of this country.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Murphy for his service to this Nation and for introducing H. Con. Res. 162. Throughout the history of this great Nation, men and women have chosen to put on the uniform and defend the principles upon which this country was built. The dedication of our men and women to our Nation should never be overlooked, and we, as a Congress, should encourage the next generation of Americans to do the same. However, there exists an inequity in pay between those who serve in our Armed Forces and those in the civilian sector. For several years, the civilian pay increase rate has remained 4 percent, which Congressman Murphy mentioned, above that of the military. It is time to end this inequity. H. Con. Res. 162 will help bring this inequity to a close by calling on Congress to voice their support for our servicemembers. This Nation relies on our military to defend its citizens against enemies both foreign and domestic, and have done so with honor and integrity; but they do not fight these battles alone. Our military families provide them much-needed support in these difficult times. As was said earlier, nearly 40 percent of the members of the Armed Forces who are deployed leave their families and children behind them. There are more than 3 million family members and dependents of those serving on active duty and in the Reserve. For far too long, Congress has not made this a top priority. That is why I join with my colleague, Representative Patrick Murphy, and all of those in both parties who want this to be a number one issue for those in uniform and their families. Matching the increase is not sufficient. We must close the gap. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, again, I want to thank Congressman Murphy. The stress of war on our men and women and their families is enormous. We cannot do much to help with the stress of war, but Mr. Murphy's resolution can help the military family as they try to balance their own budget. So thank you, Mr. Murphy, for this legislation, this resolution. And with that, Madam Speaker, I hope that each and every Member will vote in support of this resolution. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, first, I would like to thank Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member McCrery for including H.R. 418 into the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007. For several years I have tried to get this measure to the House floor. So thank you, Mr. Neal, Mr. McDermott, and Mr. English. H.R. 418 is a bill that would permit military families who receive the death gratuity to invest the full amount into certain tax-favored accounts. As you may know, a death gratuity is a $100,000 payment paid to survivors of servicemembers whose death resulted from combat-related circumstances. Current tax law limits the amount that recipients of the death gratuity can place in tax-preferred accounts, such as a Roth IRA or a Coverdell Educational Savings Account. This legislation would change that to allow recipients to contribute up to the full amount of the gratuity payment to any of those two accounts. As the families of our fallen heroes try to put their lives back together, they need help. The death of a loved one is difficult enough, without having to worry about saving the death gratuity to pay for retirement, college or other expenses and then have the government come in and tax the interest on that savings. Madam Speaker, the need for this assistance was brought to my attention by Captain Michael Ceres, a constituent stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River. Captain Ceres, who just returned from serving in Iraq and will soon be redeployed, contacted my office and suggested that Congress institute this change to ease the burden on grieving military families. We owe it to our fallen military heroes to expand the options to the families who receive the death gratuity, families who have paid the ultimate cost with the loss of their loved one. Today, I call on all my colleagues in the House to support this major piece of legislation, known as the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007. With that, I want to thank the leadership on the Democratic side, the leadership on the Republican side for this comprehensive bill to help our military and their families.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Charlie Rangel and the House Ways and Means Committee for their work in putting together a package of legislation called the Heroes Earning Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007, which is designed to help members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. I'm especially grateful, Mr. Speaker, that the committee has indicated plans to include in this legislation a bill that I first introduced in 2005. H.R. 418 would permit military families to receive the death gratuity to invest the full amount into certain tax-favored accounts. A death gratuity is a $100,000 payment paid to survivors of servicemembers whose death resulted from combat-related circumstances. Current tax law limits the amount that recipients of the death gratuity can place in tax-preferred accounts, such as a Roth IRA or Coverdell Education Savings Account. This legislation would change that to allow recipients to contribute up to the full amount of the gratuity payment to these accounts. Mr. Speaker, as the families of our fallen heroes try to put their lives back together, they need all the help they can get. The families should not have to worry about saving the death gratuity to pay for health care, college or other expenses and then have the government come in and tax the interest on that savings. This bill would help ensure that does not happen. Mr. Speaker, the need for this legislation was brought to my attention by Captain Michael Ceres, a constituent stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River. Captain Ceres, who just returned from serving in Iraq, contacted my office and suggested that Congress should institute this change to ease the burden on grieving military families. Mr. Speaker, the Joint Committee on Taxation has scored this legislation at no cost, meaning that the actual cost of this proposal is less than $500,000 over 9 years. Our men and women in uniform serve this Nation with great honor and distinction; many give their lives for this country. We owe it to our fallen military heroes to expand this option of families who receive the death gratuity, families who have paid the ultimate cost with the loss of their loved one. H.R. 418 has also received the endorsement of The Military Coalition, a group of prominent national military and veterans organizations that represent more than 5.5 million members plus their families. Mr. Speaker, of the 35 organizations that have voiced their support for H.R. 418, let me name just a few: the Air Force association, AMVETS, Fleet Reserve Association, Gold Star Wives of America, Military Officers Association of America, Marine Corps League, Navy League of the United States, and there are many others. I call upon my colleagues to support the inclusion of H.R. 418 in the Heroes Earning Assistance and Tax Relief Act of 2007 in order to expand the options of military families whose loved ones have given their lives in the name of freedom and in defense of this Nation. Mr. Speaker, I close by asking God to please bless our men and women in uniform. I ask God to please bless the families of our men and women in uniform. And also, I will ask God to continue to bless America.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, today is day 274 of incarceration for two former U.S. Border Patrol agents. Agents Ramos and Compean were convicted in March of 2006 for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border into Texas. Two decorated Border Patrol agents with exemplary records, who were doing their duty to protect the American people from an illegal American drug smuggler, are serving 11 and 12 years in prison. Since the agents' convictions, thousands of American citizens and dozens of Members of Congress have called for justice for these two border agents. You just heard the Congressman from Texas (Mr. Poe) speak about this issue in a 1-minute speech. These two decorated agents were doing their duty to enforce the law and did not deserve to spend 1 day in prison. While these two men appeal their convictions, they continue to languish in solitary confinement. Nine months of solitary confinement is unacceptable. The Bureau of Prisons has violated its own guidelines which state that administrative detention is intended to be used for ``short periods not to exceed 90 days.'' Although former law enforcement officers face increased safety risks in prison, the harmful effects of prolonged solitary confinement are well-documented. Solitary confinement is not an acceptable long-term solution for ensuring their physical safety. This week, I was pleased to join my friend, Congressman Rohrabacher, and many other of my friends, including Congressman Poe, in signing a letter to Mr. Michael Mukasey. This letter asked that, upon confirmation, the new Attorney General will thoroughly examine the flaws of this prosecution and will put an end to the harsh treatment these agents are receiving in prison. A directive from the Director of the Bureau of Prisons or the Attorney General can correct this unfair treatment. Madam Speaker, with an unbiased review by the incoming Attorney General, I am hopeful that this gross miscarriage of justice will be corrected. I say in closing, Madam Speaker, to the families of Mr. Ramos and Mr. Compean, please know that there are many of us in the United States Congress, the House and the Senate, that are trying to do what is right for your loved ones. This is an injustice that should not be allowed to continue. We need to bring justice to this injustice for these two men. May God continue to bless America and our men and women in uniform.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to commend Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, for its remarkable service to military men and women who have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries. Homes for Our Troops was founded in 2004 to assist severely injured service men and women and their families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor, and coordinating the process of building a new home or adapting an existing home for handicap accessibility. Homes for Our Troops has been awarded the Seal of Excellence by Independent Charities of America, and all services provided by the organization are at no cost to the veteran it serves. This Saturday, I happened to be fortunate enough to witness firsthand the great work of this organization when U.S. Sergeant Edmundson and his family received keys to their new home in New Bern, North Carolina. Sergeant Edmundson was severely wounded on October 2, 2005 in an IED attack in Iraq. His injuries include shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and right leg, and fractured vertebrae. Sergeant Edmundson has not been able to walk since the explosion, and he still cannot talk. He has worked very hard the past 2 years to regain quality of life, and just recently returned to his family after a 6-month rehabilitation stay in Chicago. After Sergeant Edmundson was discharged, he and his family relocated to New Bern, North Carolina. Sergeant Edmundson and his family were selected to receive a new home after they encountered John Gonsalves, the president and founder of Homes for Our Troops. Sergeant Edmundson was at a recovery center in Washington, DC, when he met Mr. Gonsalves. Thousands of dollars in donations from businesses and members of the Craven County community poured in to support the efforts of Homes for Our Troops to build a home for this hero and his family in New Bern, North Carolina. This Saturday, my heart was touched so deeply as I saw the joy of Sergeant Edmundson, his wife Stephanie, and his little girl, Gracie, as they were welcomed into their home. This story is only one example of many individuals and groups across this Nation that are doing God's will for our men and women in uniform. I feel humbled to have met Sergeant Edmundson and his family, and all of those who have formed such a caring support system for them. These contributions and acts of service are what truly shows the goodness and the greatness of America. Madam Speaker, with that, I close by asking God to continue to bless our men and women in uniform and their families, and ask God to continue to bless America.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I introduced H.J. Res. 53, the Constitutional War Powers Resolution. Today, every Member of Congress received a Dear Colleague letter on this resolution. I hope that all Members and their staffs will take the time to review this legislation. Too many times, this Congress has abdicated its constitutional duty by allowing Presidents to overstep their executive authority. Our Constitution states that, while the Commander in Chief has the power to conduct wars, only Congress has the power to authorize war. As threats to international peace and security continue to evolve, the Constitutional War Powers Resolution rededicates Congress to its primary constitutional role of deciding when to use force abroad. In 1793, James Madison said: ``The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature. The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.'' And that was James Madison, 1793. The Framers of our Constitution sought to decentralize the war powers of the United States and construct a balance between the political branches. Because this balance has been too often ignored throughout American history, the Constitutional War Powers Resolution seeks to establish a clear national policy for today's post-9/11 world. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 aimed to clarify the intent of the constitutional Framers and to ensure that Congress and the President share in the decisionmaking process in the event of armed conflict. Yet, since the enactment of the resolution, time and again Presidents have maintained that the resolution's consultation reporting and congressional authorization requirements are unconstitutional obstacles to executive authority. By more fully clarifying the war powers of the President and the Congress, the Constitutional War Powers Resolution improves upon the War Powers Resolution of 1973 in a number of ways. It clearly spells out the powers that the Congress and the President must exercise collectively, as well as the defensive measures that the Commander in Chief may exercise without congressional authority. It also provides a more robust reporting requirement that would enable Congress to be more informed and have greater oversight. This resolution is the result of the dedicated work of the Constitutional Project and its War Powers Initiative. And it protects and preserves the checks and balances the Framers intended in the decision to bring our Nation into war. Mr. Speaker, I hope many of my colleagues will consider cosponsoring this legislation. It is time for Congress to meet its constitutional duty, and it is long overdue. And with that, Mr. Speaker, before I yield back my time, I want to ask God to continue to bless our men and women in uniform and to bless their families, and for God to continue to bless America.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, questions of when and how American military forces should be used have become increasingly complex in the 21st century. Threats to international peace and security continue to evolve. Today the notion of national self-defense has come to include preemptive or preventive military action against those who are perceived to be a threat. A war on terrorism in which the enemy may not always be a specific nation-state has become the primary defense concerns of the United States. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 was intended to clarify the intent of the constitutional framers and ensure that Congress and the President share in the decision-making process in the event of armed conflict. Yet, since the enactment of the Resolution, presidents have consistently maintained that the consultation, reporting and congressional authorization requirements of the Resolution are unconstitutional obstacles to executive authority. Mr. Speaker, the Constitution divides war powers between the legislative and executive branches. Our Constitution states that while the Commander in Chief has the power to conduct war, only Congress has the power to authorize war. Too many times this Congress has abdicated its constitutional duty and allowed Presidents to overstep their constitutional authority. As James Madison said, and I quote, ``In no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature and not to the executive department.'' Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to meet its constitutional responsibility. The framers sought to decentralize the war powers of the United States and construct a balance between the political branches. Because this balance has been both respected and ignored throughout American history, I have today introduced legislation, H.J. Resolution 53, the Constitutional War Powers Resolution that seeks to establish a clear and national policy for today's post-9/11 world. This resolution is a result of the dedicated work of the Constitutional Project and its War Powers Initiative. The Constitutional War Powers Resolution improves upon the War Powers Resolution of 1973 in a number of ways. It clearly spells out the powers that the Congress and the President must exercise collectively, as well as the defensive measures that the Commander in Chief may exercise without congressional approval. It also provides a more robust reporting requirement to enable Congress to be more informed and to have great oversight. By more fully clarifying the war powers of the President and the Congress, the Constitutional War Powers Resolution rededicates Congress to its primary constitutional role of deciding when to use force abroad. This resolution protects and preserves the checks and balances that framers intended in the decision to bring our Nation into war. Mr. Speaker, I hope many of my colleagues will consider cosponsoring this legislation. I ask the good Lord in heaven to please bless our men and women in uniform and to continue to bless America. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today is day 247 of incarceration for two former U.S. Border Patrol agents. Agents Ramos and Compean were convicted in March of 2006 for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border into Texas. These agents have now been in prison for more than 8 months. Since the agents' conviction, thousands of American citizens and dozens of Members of Congress have asked President Bush to pardon these two men. Mr. Speaker, many in this country are disappointed that the prison sentence of Scooter Libby was committed, while these two law enforcement officers are still in prison. Mr. Libby did not spend one day in prison, yet two decorated Border Patrol agents with exemplary records, who were doing their duty to protect the American people from an illegal alien drug smuggler, are serving 11 and 12 years in prison. By attempting to apprehend an illegal alien drug smuggler, these agents were enforcing our laws, not breaking the laws. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Judiciary Chairman John Conyers for his concern and interest in this case. I also want to thank Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Bill Delahunt who, prior to the August recess, held a hearing to examine the Mexican Government's influence in this case. I am hopeful that Chairman John Conyers will see to it that the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing within the next 30 to 45 days to fully examine this case. While the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on this case in July 2007, additional questions remain about how this prosecution was initiated and how the U.S. Attorney's Office proceeded in this case. Since that time, it has become clear that not only did the prosecution prevent the jury from hearing evidence that the smuggler brought a second load of drugs across our border, but this smuggler was also given free access to our country during and after the second smuggling incident. The American people want to know why did the U.S. Attorney's Office continue to produce these border agents even after the credibility of the drug smuggler was shattered. This is a question that U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton needs to answer. By shedding light on the questionable actions of the prosecution in this case, I am hopeful that this gross miscarriage of justice can be corrected. And I want to say to the families of Border Patrol agents Compean and Ramos that this Congress is not going to forget this injustice; and we're going to turn this injustice to justice for these two men. They deserve it. God bless them and their families. And may God bless our men and women in uniform, and may God continue to bless America.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of an important effort to honor our Nation's Vietnam veterans. The Onslow County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation in Jacksonville, North Carolina, is a nonprofit organization that was established by veterans and supporters in 1998. It was created to raise funds for the construction of a memorial to honor the brave men and women from all branches of the Armed Forces who served their country in Vietnam. More than 9 million veterans of the Armed Forces served on active duty from August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975. Of the 3 million men and women who served in the Vietnam theater, 300,000 were wounded and more than 58,000 were killed. The Veterans Administration estimates that nearly 200 of the surviving Vietnam veterans die each and every day. Today, nearly 10 years after its formation, the goal of the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation is on the verge of becoming a reality. On the grounds of Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, land has been acquired adjacent to the Beirut memorial, and the first phase of construction is expected to begin later this year. The design of the memorial consists of a gazebo over a reflecting pool and fountain encircled by a glass wall inscribed with the names of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. Hidden within a dark gray granite base, lights will gently illuminate the engraved names on the curved glass memorial. Once completed, the memorial will enhance the Beirut memorial and any further memorials built within the Lejeune Memorial Garden. By creating an environment where relatives and the general public can come to remember and reflect on the men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam, this memorial will attract thousands of visitors to Onslow County each year. The Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation has raised and collected about $1.2 million toward the $5 million estimated cost of the memorial. In support of this worthy project, Mr. Kenji Horn and others who believe in this memorial have organized a fund-raising motorcycle run in Jacksonville, North Carolina, on Saturday, September 22 of this year. It is open to everyone, and all types of motorcycles are welcome. Registrations have come in from Florida, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Kentucky, and other States around the country; and more than 1,500 motorcycles are expected to participate. Mr. Speaker, in today's world, we all are aware of the debt of this Nation, and we understand the reality that most worthwhile projects must be funded by the private sector. So it is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that people from around this Nation will be interested in learning more about the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation. Our Vietnam veterans have earned this honor. And I close, Mr. Speaker, by saying, please God, continue to bless our men and women in uniform, and please, God, continue to bless America.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today is the 237th day of incarceration for two former U.S. Border Patrol agents. Agent Ramos and Compean were convicted in March of 2006 for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border into Texas. These agents have now been in prison for more than 7 months. Since the agents' conviction, thousands of American citizens and dozens of Members of Congress have asked President Bush to pardon these two men. Mr. Speaker, many in this country are disappointed that the present sentence of Scooter Libby was commuted while these two law enforcement officers are still in prison. Mr. Libby did not spend one day in prison; yet two decorated Border Patrol agents with exemplary records, who were doing their duty to protect the American people from an illegal alien drug smuggler, are serving 11- and 12-year prison sentences. By attempting to apprehend an illegal alien drug smuggler, these agents were enforcing our laws, not breaking them. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Judiciary Chairman John Conyers for his concern and interest in this case. I also want to thank Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Bill Delahunt, who, prior to the August recess, held a hearing to examine the Mexican Government's influence in this case. I am hopeful that Chairman John Conyers will see to it that the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing within the next 30 to 45 days to fully examine this case. While the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on this case in July, additional questions remain about how this prosecution was initiated and how the U.S. Attorney's Office proceeded in this case. Since that time, it has become clear that not only did the prosecution prevent the jury from hearing evidence that the smuggler brought a second load of drugs across our border, but the smuggler was given free access to our country during and after the second smuggling incident. The American people want to know, why did the U.S. Attorney's Office continue to prosecute these two border agents even after the credibility of the drug smuggler was shattered? This is a question that U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton needs to answer. By shedding light on the questionable actions of the prosecution in this case, I am hopeful that this gross miscarriage of justice can be corrected. Before closing, Mr. Speaker, I call on the White House again to look seriously at the situation. These two border agents are Hispanic Americans who have served this Nation, and they have a right to justice. This is an example of an injustice.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today In recognition of North Carolina's first Governor, Richard Caswell. As a sign of honor and respect for his service to North Carolina in many significant and progressive leadership roles, I join in strong support of the State of North Carolina's designation of the month of August 2007 as Gov. Richard Caswell Month to honor this important patriot and the first Governor of North Carolina. Richard Caswell was born on August 3, 1729, in Harford County, MD. At the age of 16, Richard and his brother, William, came to North Carolina on horseback with letters of introduction and recommendation from the Governor of Maryland to North Carolina's royal governor, Gabriel Johnston. Richard Caswell was an early and effective leader of the patriot cause in the American Revolution. He represented North Carolina at both Continental Congresses and served in all five Provincial Congresses. He commanded the patriot forces in the important early victory over the loyalists at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in February 1776, thus becoming one of North Carolina's first heroes. He served throughout the Revolution as commander of the North Carolina Cavalry, and ultimately served as major general of the North Carolina Militia during the Revolution. He chaired the committee that drafted the first North Carolina Constitution. Richard Caswell served as the first Governor of North Carolina and still holds the distinction of having served more terms than any other Governor of our State. He passed away on November 10, 1789, in Fayetteville, NC. In recognition of the outstanding statesmanship Richard Caswell provided for North Carolina, and the leadership he exhibited in his military and public career as well as family life, a celebration will take place in his honor the week of August 12 through August 19, 2007. Included in the celebration will be a grand re-opening of the Richard Caswell Memorial State Historic Site in Kinston, NC, as well as concerts, lectures and living histories. I am pleased to join the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the Lenoir County Colonial Commission and the people of North Carolina in honoring Richard Caswell--patriot, soldier and statesman.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment to defund the National Security Personnel System, NSPS. The Comptroller General of the United States, David Walker, and the staff at the Government Accounting Office, GAO has analyzed the development of NSPS. In published reports and testimony before Congress, Mr. Walker has criticized the manner in which the Department of Defense, DOD, has failed to effectively manage the design and implementation of NSPS. On July 16, 2007 GAO released a report supporting Defense unions' contention that DOD has been underestimating the cost of implementing NSPS. According to the report, GAO found that DOD's November 2005 estimate that it will cost $158 million to implement NSPS ``does not include the full cost that the department expects to incur as a result of implementing the new system.'' The report also concluded that the total amount of funds the department spent on NSPS during fiscal years 2005 and 2006 cannot be determined because DOD has not established an effective oversight mechanism to ensure that all these costs are fully captured. Because of this extreme mismanagement, we will never know how much DOD spent trying to implement NSPS, although the total amount likely runs into the billions of dollars. For this, and many other reasons, Congress should not provide funding for the implementation of this misguided endeavor.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for introducing this legislation and giving me 1 minute. Deployed, depleted, desperate. Deployed, depleted, desperate. A news article in the Raleigh, North Carolina, paper in April of this year, and I read: ``The volunteer military, especially the Army and the Marine Corps, has been ground down by endless combat deployments.'' Deployed, depleted, desperate. They desperately need this bill to pass so they can spend time with their families. One other quick point. An Army study found that the more often soldiers are deployed, the longer they are deployed each time. And the less time they spend at home, the more likely they are to suffer mental health problems, such as combat trauma, anxiety, and depression. I close by saying again, deployed, depleted, desperate. We have got to pass this legislation. God bless our men and women in uniform. As Barry McCaffrey said in the spring of this year, the Army and the Marine Corps are going to unravel if we don't help them.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and commend the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley) for introducing it. This specific resolution honors and expresses gratitude for the service in Iraq of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, known as the ``Ironman Battalion'' of the Iowa Army National Guard. Their service has been long and honorable. The soldiers of this battalion mobilized in the fall of 2005, deployed to Iraq in the spring of 2006, were due to come home in April of this year, but had their tour extended until July of 2007. For 15 months, their ``boots on the ground'' made a difference in the al-Anbar Province, one of the most dangerous areas in Iraq. They completed more than 500 convoy security missions, logged over 4 million mission miles, and delivered over one-third of the fuel needed to sustain coalition forces in Iraq. The battalion came home to Iowa on July 25 to welcoming and thankful families and communities, completing a 22-month mobilization. That period of honorable service made the battalion the longest serving Iowa Army National Guard unit since World War II. While serving in Iraq, two members of the battalion were killed in action in September of 2006: Sergeant First Class Scott Nisely and Sergeant Kampha B. Sourivong. For their ultimate sacrifice and for the service and sacrifice of the members and families of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, the Nation owes a debt of gratitude. This resolution helps to remind us of that debt. Today, Congress, by this resolution, honors and thanks the men and women of this unit and their families for their dedication and selfless service to the people of America. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Guam for her very kind remarks and comments. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of my resolution that honors the Military Order of the Purple Heart on its 75th anniversary. The Purple Heart was originally conceived as the Badge of Military Merit by GEN George Washington on August 7, 1782. However, it had fallen into disuse after the Revolutionary War. The practice of awarding the Purple Heart was revived in 1932, as the gentlewoman said, at the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. The organization now known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart was also formed in 1932 for the protection and the mutual interest of all who have received the decoration. This year will mark the 75th anniversary of fostering an environment of goodwill and comradery among combat-wounded veterans. The Purple Heart is a combat decoration awarded to Members of the Armed Forces who are wounded by an instrument of war wielded by the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of members who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. Over 1.5 million Purple Heart medals have been awarded to members of the Armed Forces fighting in defense of freedom and democracy. Today, more than 500,000 recipients of the Purple Heart are still living. By this resolution, Congress congratulates the Military Order of the Purple Heart on its 75th anniversary as a national organization whose goals are to preserve and sustain the honor of the Armed Forces. It strongly commends all recipients of the Purple Heart for their courage and sacrifice. Americans should take time to learn about the Purple Heart and the honor, courage, and bravery it symbolizes Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution that calls upon all people in the United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities and programs to demonstrate support, thanks and appreciation for the estimated 1.5 million very special members of the Armed Forces, past and present, who have been awarded the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is awarded only for those who are killed or wounded in action against the United States of America. So it is fitting that we honor and recognize their sacrifices on National Purple Heart Recognition Day, as well as recall GEN George Washington's order 225 years ago on August 7, 1782, that established the Badge of Military Merit, the predecessor of the Purple Heart. In 2001, in connection with the announcement of the creation of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, my former colleague, Ben Gilman, a New York Representative, a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps, made the following statement. It is a statement that for me helps to put in context why we should make a special effort on National Purple Heart Recognition Day. Congressman Gilman said: ``The Purple Heart is probably the most recognizable military award in the United States. Every school child knows the medal is awarded to our brave American military who are wounded in the line of duty.'' If we are to ensure that Americans, even down to every school child, continue to recognize the significance of the Purple Heart and the sacrifices of the men and women who earned it, then we must make the effort to commemorate and educate this and future generations. Support for this resolution is one way to begin that effort. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today is day 181st day of incarceration for two U.S. Border Patrol agents. Agents Ramos and Compean were convicted last spring for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border into Texas. For almost a year, thousands of American citizens and dozens of Members of Congress have asked President Bush to pardon these agents. Many Americans are outraged by the President's decision to commute the sentence of White House aid Scooter Libby, while at the same time he refuses to pardon Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean. Scooter Libby, an attorney who understands the laws of this country and should know right from wrong was convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to investigators. Mr. Libby, who should have served his sentence, did not spend one day in prison. Yet two Border Patrol agents with exemplary records who were doing their duty to protect the American people from an illegal alien drug smuggler are serving 11 and 12 years, respectively, in prison. By attempting to apprehend an illegal alien drug smuggler, these agents were enforcing our laws, not breaking the laws. There are legitimate legal questions about how this prosecution was initiated and how the U.S. Attorney's Office proceeded in this case. I am extremely pleased that Senator Dianne Feinstein will be presiding over a full committee hearing tomorrow to examine the details of this case. This hearing will provide U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton an opportunity to explain to the Senate Judiciary Committee and to the American people why this U.S. Attorney's Office in western Texas chose to go after law enforcement officers while protecting illegal aliens who committed crimes and gave the illegal alien immunity to testify against the border agents. I want to thank Senator Feinstein for her interest in this case and for her leadership in holding hearings to look into this injustice. I am also grateful to Chairman John Conyers, who I hope will hold a similar hearing on the House side sometime this fall. Before I close, I want to say to the families of Border Patrol Agents Compean and Ramos that we, the American people, will not forget your husbands, your fathers, your brothers, and we will do everything we can to see that justice will prevail over an injustice.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. I thank the chairman for this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2956. For more than 4 years, our men and women in uniform have faithfully, skillfully served in Iraq. This legislation makes clear that the Government of Iraq must now be responsible for Iraq's future. Mr. Speaker, when Marine General ``Jack'' Sheehan, a former top NATO commander, declined to serve the White House as war czar for Afghanistan and Iraq, he stated his reasons for not accepting this position: ``The very fundamental issue is they don't know where the hell they're going.'' That is what Marine Corps GEN Jack Sheehan said. General Sheehan's statement is why the Congress and the administration need to work together to develop an end point to the war strategy in Iraq. It is time for Congress to meet its constitutional responsibility by defining what victory in Iraq will look like. Stay the course is not the answer. As Colin Powell said last week, ``We have to face the reality of the situation that is on the ground and not what we would want it to be. It is not a civil war that can be put down or solved by the Armed Forces of the United States.'' Colin Powell, I quoted him. That is his statement. We are now in the 5th year in Iraq, and 3,611 Americans have died in the war. Mr. Speaker, to this date I have sent over 6,400 letters to the families and extended families of our men and women in the military who have lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq, and every time I sign a letter, my heart aches. Chairman Skelton's plan provides a comprehensive strategy to maintain and advance the diplomatic, political, and economic components of United States national security interests in Iraq. It has taken this country in a direction that it needs to consider. Mr. Speaker, I close by reminding this Congress what Rudyard Kipling said in his writings known as ``Epitaphs of War,'' and we need to all be responsible for this, and this is my quote from him: ``If any question why we died, tell them because our fathers lied.''

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, many Americans are outraged by the President's decision to commute the sentence of White House aide Scooter Libby, while at the same time, he refuses to pardon former Border Agents Ramos and Compean. Scooter Libby, an attorney who understands the laws of this country and should know right from wrong, was convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice, and lying to investigators. Mr. Libby, who should have served his sentence, did not spend 1 day in prison. Yet, two Border Patrol agents with exemplary records, who tried their best to do their duty to protect the American people from an illegal alien drug smuggler, are serving 11 and 12 years in prison today. Today is the agents' 176th day in Federal prison. Two heroes sit behind bars while a guilty man walks free. Again, I say, where is the justice? By attempting to apprehend a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our borders, these agents were enforcing our laws, not breaking them. For almost a year, thousands of American citizens and dozens of Members of Congress have asked President Bush to pardon these agents. The President repeatedly responds that there is a pardon ``process'' and ``a series of steps'' to be taken by the Justice Department, ``to make a recommendation as to whether or not a President grants a pardon.'' Yet, Mr. Speaker, the President did not consult the Justice Department in Mr. Libby's case. Mr. President, if there is a process, why did this process not matter when you commuted Mr. Libby's sentence? The President has the power to immediately pardon agents Ramos and Compean, two heroes who were unjustly prosecuted for doing their job to protect our border. I have written the President and called on him to correct a true injustice by using his executive authority to immediately pardon these men. Mr. Speaker, I will submit for the Record the entire text of the letter that I have written to the President. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman John Conyers, who I am sure at some point in time will hold a hearing to thoroughly review the prosecution of these agents. Tonight, I especially want to thank Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has shared my concerns about the unfairness of this prosecution. I am extremely pleased that she will be presiding over a Senate hearing next Tuesday to examine the details of this case. There are many questions and concerns about the actions of the U.S. Attorney in this case that need to be answered. I am hopeful that justice will soon prevail for these two men. Mr. Speaker, before I close, I want to say to the families of Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean that this House of Representatives will not forget your loved ones. We will not forget that an injustice has prevailed. We will seek justice for your husbands and your fathers and your relatives. I hope and pray that the President himself will pray about this and grant to these two men justice instead of injustice. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the letter referred to earlier. July 3, 2007. Hon. George W. Bush, The White House, Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC Dear Mr. President: In light of your recent commutation of I. Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby's prison sentence, I am writing to express my deep disappointment that U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean remain unjustly incarcerated for wounding a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border. While you have spared Mr. Libby from serving even one day of his ``excessive'' 30-month prison term, agents Ramos and Compean have already served 167 days of their 11- and 12-year prison sentences. By attempting to apprehend an illegal alien drug smuggler, these agents were enforcing our laws, not breaking them. Mr. President, it is now time to listen to the American people and Members of Congress who have called upon you to pardon these agents. By granting immunity and free health care to an illegal alien drug trafficker and allowing our law enforcement officers to languish in prison--our government has told its citizens, and the world, that it does not care about protecting our borders or enforcing our laws. I urge you to correct a true injustice by immediately pardoning these two law enforcement officers. Sincerely, Walter B. Jones, Member of Congress.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing this week to examine mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Included in this hearing will be the opportunity to examine the issue of mandatory minimum sentencing in the case of U.S. Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean. As the Members of this House well know, in February, 2006, the two agents were convicted in a U.S. District Court in Texas for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler. They were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison respectively, and today is the 160th day since the agents entered Federal prison. The law that the agents were charged with violating, 18 United States Code, section 924(c)(1)(A), carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. As enacted by Congress, the law requires a defendant to be indicted and convicted either of ``using'' or ``carrying'' a firearm during and in relation to the commission of a crime of violence or ``possessing'' a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. However, neither Mr. Ramos nor Mr. Compean were ever charged with specific elements of the crime. Instead, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District Court of Texas, Mr. Johnny Sutton, extracted from the U.S. Criminal Code a sentencing factor, ``discharging'' a firearm, and substituted that sentencing factor for the congressionally defined elements of the offense. Ten years of each of their sentences were based on an indictment and conviction for a Federal crime that does not exist. The law they were charged with violating has never been enacted by the United States Congress but rather was fashioned by the U.S. Attorney's Office. In this case I can imagine how difficult it would be to obtain an indictment and conviction for ``using,'' ``possessing,'' or ``carrying'' a firearm when the Border Patrol agents were required to carry firearms as part of their job. That difficulty may well explain why this U.S. Attorney's Office unilaterally changed Congress's definition of a crime to a definition that would be easier for the prosecution to prove. When this issue was brought to my attention and to the attention of my colleagues Virgil Goode and former Texas State Judge Ted Poe, we were pleased to join forces with the Gun Owners Foundation, U.S. Border Control, U.S. Border Control Foundation, and the Conservative Legal Defense & Education Fund to file a friend of the court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The brief urges reversal of these unjust convictions and 10-year mandatory minimum sentences by spelling out how charges contained in two counts of the indictment against the agents are fatally defective. I want to thank Chairman John Conyers for scheduling a hearing on this issue, as well as the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism and Homeland Security for its willingness to investigate the injustice committed against these two border agents. I encourage the chairman and the committee to take a thorough look at the action of the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas and his aggressive prosecution of law enforcement officers like Ramos and Compean. Mr. Speaker, as I close, I want to let the families of Compean and Ramos know that we are not going to forget these two border agents. They are heroes and should never have been sent to prison.