Michael McCaul

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 915, the Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act. This bill, which will codify Border Enforcement Security Task Force units, was named to honor the memory of slain Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Jaime Zapata. In 2011, Special Agent Zapata and his associate, Special Agent Victor Avila, were ambushed on a dangerous stretch of highway in Mexico by the ruthless Zeta drug cartel. The vehicle that the two special agents were traveling in was forced off the road by the heavily armed thugs. Once the vehicle had come to a stop, the cartel members forced the doors open, fired their weapons at point blank range, and tried to drag away Special Agent Zapata, who fought back and was able to re-lock the doors. Special Agent Zapata tried to explain to the men that he and Special Agent Avila were U.S. diplomats. The gunman responded to his plea with bullets. Special Agent Zapata then heroically drove himself and Special Agent Avila away from the scene and to safety. Investigators later found more than 80 individual bullet casings at the scene of the crime. By nothing short of a miracle, Special Agent Avila survived the ordeal. However, Jaime Zapata did not. Border Enforcement Security Task Force units are comprised of DHS and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel. They coordinate efforts to enhance border security and they mitigate threats posed by transnational crime, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien traffic, violence, and kidnappings. These units will leverage the experience of personnel from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Customs and Border Protection, the United States Coast Guard, and other DHS components, as well as other Federal agencies, State, local, and tribal and, when appropriate, foreign law enforcement partners. With the increasing violence in Mexico and with the growing resourcefulness of vast criminal networks operating along the border, this type of interagency response is critical. The men and women who have selflessly dedicated themselves to protecting our borders deserve this protection. Jaime Zapata paid the ultimate price, and I've made it a personal mission, along with my colleague from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), to help ensure that no more brave men and women are lost to the violence along our southwest border. In addition to drug cartels freely moving across the border with drugs, cash, and weapons, the growing presence of Iran and Hezbollah in Latin America are also a threat. We do not have the luxury of sitting idly by while those looking to do us harm continue to enter the United States illegally. I would like to thank my friend and colleague Representative Cuellar for introducing this vitally important piece of bipartisan legislation. I would also like to thank Senators Lieberman and Collins for taking action on this bill. H.R. 915 honors Special Agent Jaime Zapata by making sure that those who serve as he did have the tools they need to secure the border. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers and I'm prepared close, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, just on a point of personal privilege, Mr. Cuellar and I will be embarking at the end of this week to head down to Mexico City to the President of Mexico's inauguration. I agree with my colleague that our relationship with Mexico is vitally important and the idea that the BEST teams, Border Enforcement Security Teams, have provided an invaluable service on the border. In terms of confiscating cash and weapons going south into Mexico, they have been extremely successful; and if anything merits additional resources, it's this program. I can't think of a better program to name after Jaime Zapata. I will also say that on the several occasions that I have met with Agent Avila and his family, it has been very emotional to see someone who has come back almost from an operation of war, if you will, who has been shot at by the Los Zeta cartel members, almost going through a PTSD-type situation, a very, very emotional experience; and I wish Agent Avila and his family the best in their recovery. He is a very brave, brave man and soldier. And also to the family of Jaime Zapata, we honor you today with this bill and please know that you are always in our thoughts and in our prayers. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5913) to create an independent advisory panel to comprehensively assess the management structure and capabilities related to the Department of Homeland Security and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the Department, as amended.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of the DHS Accountability Act of 2012. Congress has an important opportunity to make the Department of Homeland Security a more effective and efficient organization. The purpose of this bipartisan legislation is to create an independent advisory panel to conduct a top-to-bottom examination of deficiencies in the Department's management structure and capabilities. It follows six subcommittee oversight hearings examining corruption, low morale, inefficiency, and waste of taxpayer dollars, and comes almost 10 years since the inception of DHS. I appreciate the strong support of the ranking member of the Homeland Security Oversight Subcommittee, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating), as an original cosponsor of this bill. As the third largest Federal Department, DHS has more than 240,000 employees and an annual budget of $60 billion. It's transformation, according to the GAO, is critical to achieving its Homeland Security mission; however, excessive bureaucracy, waste, ineffectiveness, and lack of transparency have hindered its operations and wasted taxpayer dollars. Mismanagement at the Department is a threat to the security of our homeland. Since 2003, GAO has designated the transformation of DHS has high risk because the Department had to transform 22 agencies, several with major management challenges, into one Department. Failure to effectively address the Department's management risks could have serious consequences. DHS remains on GAO's high-risk list. While GAO has conducted numerous audits of specific DHS programs, a comprehensive management assessment of the Department has yet to be conducted. Our hearings and GAO findings conclude that DHS has made some progress but is still dysfunctional in several areas. The Department continues to face challenges in acquisition management, human capital, integration of financial data, and IT. In August, my subcommittee released a report outlining how the Department's management failures, related to a variety of acquisition programs, have wasted taxpayer dollars and had a serious impact on our ability to protect the homeland. The report's findings show why such a panel is needed to help fix the Department's shortcomings. GAO's recent work also identified areas of duplicative effort. For instance, GAO found agencies are paying for risk assessments that are not being completed while simultaneously conducting their own assessments. Employee morale also remains one of the lowest in the Federal Government. Additionally, there are examples of Border Patrol agents accepting bribes, theft by airport screeners, and immigration officers complicit in fraud. These deficiencies cannot continue. Based on the findings of these hearings and GAO reviews, I have doubts that the Department can carry out its core mission of protecting the homeland if the problems persist. These issues of corruption, waste, duplication, and abuse of power are all symptomatic of deeply rooted flaws in the Department's management. I believe it will take a dedicated team of independent investigators to identify the root causes and recommend concrete changes. A top-to-bottom management review is necessary because the current management team is not getting the job done. The DHS Accountability Act of 2012, as amended, will create an independent eight-member advisory panel appointed by the legislative and executive branches to comprehensively assess DHS management structure and capabilities. It will require the panel to make recommendations to improve DHS's efficiency and effectiveness, and it will require an interim report sent to Congress 1 year after the panel's selection, with the final report due 2 years after its inception. The panel will possess subpoena power, the authority to conduct hearings, and receive expert witness testimony. The panel's recommendations will help make DHS a leaner, smarter, and more effective organization and ferret out duplicative programs and offices. Fellow Members, this legislation is our opportunity to take action, and I urge you to support the DHS Accountability Act of 2012. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and as I have no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a good and decent man, a man of God and a man of faith, a man who has devoted his entire life to the service of his fellow man. Father Bud Roland, whom we affectionately call Father Bud, is our guest chaplain today and is the pastor of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Austin, Texas. A native of Amarillo, Father Bud was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in January 1999. He was inspired to convert to Catholicism by a loving and generous man in Amarillo named Jordan Grooms who also inspired scores of others to go into the priesthood. I am thankful that this man impacted Father Bud, who has gone on to shepherd so many with great love and great leadership. Father Bud is revered, admired, and loved by all whose lives he has touched. It has been a great privilege to call him my pastor, and everyone who knows him experiences the true message of Christ. In his words, in his deeds and, above all, in his heart, his example is a beacon of light which draws us all closer to the Creator. I am reminded of Romans 8:28, which says: We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. We are blessed, and the world is a better place because Father Bud was called according to His purpose.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Captain William Andrew Lott of Leesburg, Florida, my uncle, who passed away earlier this month. A native of Dallas, Texas, Captain Lott flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, serving 34 years in the United States Navy in both hot and cold wars. He flew three different types of carrier-based aircraft including the A-1 Skyraider, the F-8 Crusader and the F-4 Phantom. He spent the equivalent of six years of his life at sea, amassing thousands of hours of flight time in three different combat aircraft, serving four tours of duty in Vietnam, and surviving ejections from crippled aircraft three times. He served proudly as not only a fighter pilot, but also as the Commanding Officer of both Fighter Squadron Forty One and the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California. During his illustrious career, Captain Lott was the recipient of many awards and commendations including the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal. He was also an outstanding mentor to both the junior enlisted and officers under his command, with one former subordinate commenting, ``He was a great leader and mentor, just like a Navy fighter pilot his timing was always on target; he knew when a junior officer needed direction and was always compassionate when doing so. He was not afraid to do what was right even in the face of adversity.'' His Public Works Officer at El Centro noted, ``the leadership style he passed on to me stayed with me. It was his guidance that pushed me on to be Operations Officer in Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 62 and to later become Commanding Officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7. In fact, when the civilian construction world called me, it was because of Captain Lott I chose to stay in longer as I wanted to command just like him.'' Captain Lott leaves behind two sons, Randall and David, and a nation grateful for his distinguished service.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate two important anniversaries that are coming up this July 14th in relation to our close friend and ally: the country of Taiwan. Since the end of World War II, the United States and Taiwan have fostered a close relationship that has been of enormous strategic and economic benefit to both countries. When the United States shifted diplomatic relations from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China in January 1979, Congress moved quickly to pass the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) to ensure that the United States would continue its robust engagement with Taiwan in the areas of commerce, culture, and security cooperation. On April 10, 1979, this important and lasting piece of legislation became the ``Law of the Land'' and has since served as the statutory basis for U.S.-Taiwan relations going forward. After 33 years, the TRA still stands as a model of Congressional leadership in the history of our foreign relations, and, together with the 1982 ``Six Assurances,'' it remains the cornerstone of a very mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Taiwan. These ``Six Assurances'' were designed by President Reagan to further clarify U.S. policy toward Taiwan (in particular to the sale of arms to Taiwan,) to reiterate our commitment to Taiwan's security under the TRA and to reaffirm our position on Taiwan's sovereignty. It also stipulated that we would not pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the PRC. This coming July 14 marks the 30th anniversary of President Reagan issuing said Six Assurances in 1982. It also marks the 25th anniversary of the lifting of martial law in Taiwan in 1987. Martial law was promulgated in Taiwan on May 19, 1949 by Chiang Kai- shek's Chinese Nationalist government. Its end 38 years later marked the longest imposition of martial law by a regime anywhere in the world. Even after the end of martial law, tight restrictions on the people of Taiwan's freedom of assembly, speech and the press remained in place. Nevertheless, July 14, 1987 set the stage for a momentous process of democratization in Taiwan that continues to this day. Over the past three decades, Taiwan has remained a trusted ally of the United States that shares with us the ideals of freedom and democracy. However, the people of Taiwan continue to live day after day under the ominous shadow cast by over 1400 short and medium-range ballistic missiles that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has aimed at them. The PRC persists in claiming Taiwan as a ``renegade province,'' refusing to renounce the use of force to prevent Taiwan's formal de jure independence. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in commemorating this July 14 the 30th anniversary of the Six Assurances and the 25th anniversary of the lifting of martial law in Taiwan, to further underline our unwavering commitment to the people of Taiwan and to affirm our support for the strong and deepening relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, as a former Federal prosecutor at the Department of Justice, I do not take these proceedings lightly. Above all, those at the Department cherish their integrity. Mr. Speaker, that integrity has now been impugned. This is not about politics. It's about pursuit of the truth and justice. The definition of contempt is the willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court or legislative body. This definition falls squarely within the facts here. When insiders revealed the government's role in Operation Fast and Furious, the Department of Justice falsely told Congress that whistleblowers weren't telling the truth. As Congress fulfilled its oversight obligations and tried to get to the bottom of how guns were put in the hands of Mexican drug cartels, ultimately killing Border Patrol Brian Terry, this administration refused to turn over crucial documents that would shed light on this. Instead, they asserted executive privilege at the eleventh hour, calling into question the validity of the privilege itself and at the same time demonstrating that communications were held at the highest levels in the government. In fact, the wiretaps, we all know, are approved at Main Justice. Mr. Speaker, this Attorney General needs to be held accountable. The Terry family, the families of the Mexican people who have been slain, and the American people deserve no less.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the retirement of Robert N. Campbell III, Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP and National Sector Leader of Deloitte's U.S. State Government practice. Bob will soon retire after 39 years with Deloitte. During his tenure with Deloitte, Bob has worked closely with government leaders to address and resolve their critical policy, financing, and operational issues. He has advised leaders of major federal agencies, over 40 states and several major local governments on a variety of issues spanning human services, higher education, K 12 education, student loan finance, employment, economic development, public health care, Medicaid, mental health, developmental disabilities, revenue and taxation, and central finance and administration. Mr. Campbell is a frequent writer and speaker on public policy and management issues. He recently co-authored the book States of Transition addressing the big issues currently facing our nation's governors. In recent years he has been quoted in Washington Technology, Federal Times, Government Technology, Consulting Magazine, Computer World, The Hill, USA Today, and other leading publications. He has also addressed a number of conferences and associations including the National Association of Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, the Council of State Governments, and Governing Magazine's Government Performance Conference. During his tenure at Deloitte, Bob has held a variety of senior leadership roles and was awarded the firm's annual Curtis Award for Partnership Values. Bob received a Bachelor's degree with honors majoring in business and history from Austin College in 1971 and a Master's Degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas in 1973. He has served on various community boards and committees and is presently a member of the Advisory Board of the LBJ School of Public Affairs and on the Chancellors Council Executive Committee of the University of Texas System. Mr. Speaker, in closing, Bob Campbell has demonstrated passion and excellence in helping governments address and resolve critical policy, financing, and operational issues. His insights have helped governments across the country achieve better results for the citizens they serve. On behalf of the people of the 10th Congressional District, I would like to thank Bob for his years of service and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman from Illinois have any additional speakers?

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me first recognize Mr. Lipinski for his excellent leadership. We've been pushing this bill. It's the second Congress in which we've pushed it. I certainly hope that this time it goes to the Senate and gets signed into law. Mr. Lipinski, you've been a real leader on cybersecurity. It has been an honor to serve with you on the Science and Technology Committee together. Let me, again, thank you for all of your great efforts. At a time of intense partisanship, when there is so much acrimony on both sides of the aisle, it is refreshing to see a moment when we can come together as Americans first, regardless of party affiliation, and do something that's right. Cybersecurity is in the best interest of the Nation. Defending the United States is a fundamental element under the Constitution. So, for me, personally, to see us come together like we have today is a very refreshing thing. My father flew in a B 17 over Europe in 35 bombing missions. He was a bombardier. At that time, the state of warfare was very kinetic. They handed down a better country to this generation, but we're faced with a new threat. They're not bombs of his era, of his day, but, rather, digital bombs that can be dropped at any time and that have dropped on this government--on the Federal Government--and on our private sector. Bombs that have stolen trillions of dollars of intellectual property. Bombs that have committed espionage and stolen our military secrets. And bombs that could be conducted in a cyberwarfare attack. I think the thing that keeps me up most at night is the idea of cyberwarfare, because we know what our offensive capability is. We know what we can do and conduct as a Nation against another nation. That technology in the wrong hands, in a country's like Iran, can cause great devastation against the interests of the United States, can bring down power grids, can bring down financial institutions. Every critical infrastructure tied to the Internet is vulnerable to this type of attack. So I believe that this legislation will protect this Nation from such attacks. We all came up here to serve, not for ego, not for title but, at the end of the day, to make a difference, to make a fundamental difference in the lives of Americans. So I believe a moment like this is a great moment in which we can reflect back on later in our lives and think, you know, I made a difference. This bill protects Americans and future generations. Let me thank all of those who have been involved in this critical legislation and, particularly, Mr. Lipinski for your patriotism to this country and for what you've done in getting this to move forward. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Then I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Let me just as a point of personal privilege say and give my thanks to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my good friend, colleague, cochair of the Cybersecurity Caucus, for your vision, your leadership on this very, very important issue. As you know and I know, we were very into this issue of cybersecurity 6 years ago, before it was really cool to be into cybersecurity. So thank you so much for your leadership. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), my good friend and colleague and also the chairman of the Speaker's Cybersecurity Caucus.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), my good friend and colleague, the chairman of the Science and Technology Committee.

Mr. McCAUL of Texas

Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today Congress has a historic opportunity to lay the groundwork to defend our Nation against cyberattacks. We're not just talking about mischievous online activity, but actions that could bring America to its knees. Unfortunately, this is not science fiction. America is under attack, not by armies advancing on our beaches or planes overhead, but in the virtual world, where those who intend to do us harm have already penetrated our Federal and private computer networks and continue to plot relentlessly to bring down our critical infrastructure. Our water supply, nuclear facilities, air traffic control systems, electrical grid, and defense and banking systems are all vulnerable to a crippling attack. General Keith Alexander, Director of the National Security Agency, said it is not a matter of if, but when a cyber Pearl Harbor occurs. We are just simply fortunate that a computer-based attack has not brought physical harm to Americans, but that is not for a lack of trying. China has already successfully stolen some of our biggest military secrets, such as information about the F 35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Department of Defense's biggest weapons program ever. Now they know the program well enough not only to copy it, but to guard against it. Similar attacks continue unabated on our military's computer systems. Hackers trick soldiers into downloading viruses onto their computers, after which every keystroke is recorded. Mr. Speaker, our military secrets are being stolen every day. Imagine if agents of a foreign government were breaking into the Pentagon and stealing top secret documents, paper files. It would not be tolerated. It would be all over the front page of The Washington Post. And yet in the virtual world, that is occurring. In fact, the October 2011 Report to Congress on Foreign Economic Collection and Industrial Espionage states it is part of China and Russia's national policy to try to identify and take sensitive technology which they need for their own development. In fact, they train and have a cyberwarfare college. The degradation of our national security and intellectual property from cybertheft threatens to weaken us where we have historically been strong. The NSA calculates that Russia and China have stolen $1 trillion in American intellectual property, the biggest transfer of wealth in history. Their philosophy is: Why invent when you can steal it? Besides nation-states, there are groups such as Anonymous, LulzSec, and AntiSec who indulge in nonstate ``hacktivism.'' Their agenda is to bully, embarrass, and steal from those that they disagree with philosophically or politically. They think nothing of closing down Web sites, hacking into email and voice mail, and taking sensitive information from those who don't do their bidding. There has been a lot of hard work going into this Cyberweek and a lot of thought to find solutions. As cochair of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th President, I helped draft recommendations for securing the country's government networks and critical infrastructures. As a member of the Speaker's Cyber Task Force and chairman of the House Cybersecurity Caucus, I helped present those recommendations to Congress in the legislation we have seen this week. The historic legislation the House votes on this week incorporates many of these recommendations. This bill, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, gives the National Institute of Standards and Technology the authority to set security standards for Federal computer systems and develop checklists for agencies to follow. Why is that important? It hardens our Federal networks. Every Federal agency has been hacked into by agents of a foreign power, by activists. Every Federal agency, including the Pentagon, has been hacked into. This bill will harden those Federal networks and make them less vulnerable to such an attack. It also creates a Federal/university/private sector task force to coordinate research and development. It establishes cybersecurity research and development grant programs and improves the quality of our cyber workforce by creating a scholarship program. Importantly, it creates an education and awareness program for computer hygiene. When you talk to the NSA, they tell you that computer hygiene accounts for the majority of cyberattacks. This would remedy the majority of vulnerabilities that we face. And finally, it sets forth procurement standards for hardware and software that will minimize security risks. This will also have a ripple effect in the private sector so that they will also adopt such procurement standards. Other legislation we saw that passed yesterday facilitates the sharing of threat information between the public and private sector, which controls most of our critical infrastructure. While it's not part of this bill, I think it's important to make the analogy that what we did yesterday was simply allow the Federal Government to share signature threat information with the private sector, similar to a police officer sharing with a homeowner a threat that they see of someone breaking into their house and then telling them how they can better protect their house and lock the door without the door being opened. These commonsense reforms are a baseline of what we need to secure our infrastructure. We must take action before life is lost and our economy and defenses have been weakened to the point of damaging our country. One of the biggest failures after 9/11 was the knowledge that the attacks could have possibly been prevented with better intelligence information-sharing and protective measures. There was also a lack of imagination. And while we can't change the past, we can use it as a lesson, as we go forward in our modern cyberworld, a world in which our water supply, defense systems, nuclear power plants, electrical grid, banking systems, FAA, and other critical infrastructures are vulnerable to cyberthieves, -attacks, and -terrorists. We know what has to be done. Mr. Speaker, the time to act is now. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this bill, as amended, now under consideration.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2096) to advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act. Since the end of World War II, the United States and Taiwan have fostered a close relationship that has been of enormous strategic and economic benefit to both countries. When the United States shifted diplomatic relations from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China in January 1979, Congress moved quickly to pass the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) to ensure that the United States would continue its robust engagement with Taiwan in the areas of commerce, culture, and security cooperation. With President Carter's signature on April 10, 1979, this important and lasting piece of legislation became the Law of the Land and served as the statutory basis for U.S.-Taiwan relations going forward. After 33 years, the TRA still stands as a model of congressional leadership in the history of our foreign relation, and, together with the 1982 ``Six Assurances,'' it remains the cornerstone of a very mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Taiwan. Through three decades marked by momentous social, economic, and political transformations, Taiwan has remained a trusted ally of the United States that now shares with us the ideals of freedom, democracy and self-determination. The foresight of the TRA's drafters in providing that ``the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services . . . to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability,'' and affirming ``the preservation and enhancement of the human rights of all the people on Taiwan'' as explicit objectives of the United States, has contributed in large measure to make Taiwan what it is today--a vibrant, open society governed by democratic institutions. Though the people of Taiwan now enjoy fundamental human rights and civil liberties, they continue to live day after day under the ominous shadow cast by over 1400 short and medium-range ballistic missiles that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has aimed at them. The PRC persists in claiming Taiwan as a `renegade province,' refusing to renounce the use of force to prevent formal de jure independence, even codifying its right to military action via passage of the so-called ``Anti-Secession Law'' on March 14, 2005. The United States Congress strongly condemned the ``Anti-Secession Law'' in House Concurrent Resolution 98, passed on March 16, 2005. The TRA affirmed that the United States' decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China was based on the expectation that the future of Taiwan would be determined by peaceful means. Furthermore, it stipulates that it is the policy of the United States ``to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means . . . a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States.'' The unambiguous and principled stance contained in these provisions has been instrumental to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for more than thirty years, in spite of the growing military threat posed by the PRC. I therefore invite my colleagues to join me in commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the TRA, to further underline our unwavering commitment to the TRA and our support for the strong and deepening relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol. Born on December 1, 1941 in the days before the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor, the Civil Air Patrol is comprised of patriotic Americans whose flying skills and bravery have come to the rescue of this great nation again and again. In World War II, as German U-boats sank American ships along our coasts and threatened our war effort, thousands of volunteers from the Civil Air Patrol risked their lives to safeguard our shores and deter the enemy's efforts. These ``sub chasers'' spotted 143 German submarines, attacking 57 and sinking 2. This volunteer force was so successful that after the war President Harry Truman signed a law making the Civil Air Patrol a benevolent, non-profit organization. Congress followed suit and in 1948 permanently established the organization as the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Its three primary missions, as established by law, are emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education. Today the Civil Air Patrol educates young people about aviation and aerospace and encourages them to engage in civic and military leadership. It continues to save lives by participating in 90 percent of the Air Force's inland search and rescue missions. And when it comes to natural disasters, volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol can be counted on to assist more than 1,600 communities across America. They also work with the American Red Cross on humanitarian missions, coming to the rescue when other means of transportation are not available. In the last year, Civil Air Patrol volunteers participated in 1,016 search and rescue missions and helped save 113 lives. This volunteer organization leads the way for similar groups around the world and sets an example for other countries who wish to have the same success. We can be proud that America's Civil Air Patrol is the gold standard for search and rescue, aerospace education, and emergency services operations. So today we not only congratulate the Civil Air Patrol on 70 years of outstanding service, but we also thank them for coming to the aid of this great nation time and time again. Their bravery and civic leadership serve as a beacon of pride to the grateful Americans they serve.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Our debt burden in this country is so heavy, it is no longer simply a financial issue; it is a moral issue. We have spent and spent, racking up astronomical debt that will dampen the American Dream for our children and grandchildren. If we continue on this path, we will guarantee that future generations will have unsustainable tax burdens, monstrous inefficient bureaucracies, and a lifestyle so diminished that it will no longer resemble the America that we all know and love. That is not what our Founding Fathers had in mind when they formed this great Nation. In fact, in 1798, Thomas Jefferson wrote, ``I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I mean an additional article taking from the Federal Government the power of borrowing.'' Thomas Jefferson could never in his wildest dreams have imagined that our debt would one day top $14 trillion, threatening our very way of life. And unfortunately, this is a problem that only gets worse--every year that we produce a budget, our spending grows. Ronald Reagan had it right when he said, ``No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. A government program is the nearest thing on Earth we'll ever see to eternal life.'' And that was back in the 1980s when our debt was a fraction of what it is now. Our debt has grown so out of control that it not only saddles future generations with our irresponsibility, but it poses a national security threat to our country today. Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, recently stated that our increasing debt is the biggest threat we have to our national security. We are playing with fire. And it is time to stop, and it is time to do the right thing. Not only do 49 States have balanced budget amendments, but Americans all across the country have to balance their household budgets. It is time for Congress to do the same and balance America's checkbook. Some of our friends on the other side of the aisle agree. In a recent letter to House Members, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) asked his colleagues to buck their leadership and vote for the balanced budget amendment. He said, going against it is a ``strategic mistake,'' and I agree. His party's leadership evidently disagrees. And a recent headline in USA Today says it all: ``House Dems will Block Balanced Budget Amendment.'' Unfortunately, they will be on the wrong side of history. It is time for us to take a stand and do the right thing. Let's stand on the side of our children and our grandchildren and on the side of Jefferson and Reagan and with those who believe that the safety and security of our country should come before our short-term, insatiable appetite for ever-increasing government spending. The time is now. Let's support the balanced budget amendment and put an end to the fiscal insanity that threatens this great country.