Solomon Ortiz

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, House Republicans offer a budget today out of touch with reality, with everyday Americans and with basic math. It undermines veterans, working families, States, the southwest border, education, homeland security, military housing--and lays bare the real math beneath Medicare Reform. This House budget provides $1.3 billion less than what the Veterans' Affairs Committee recommended--on a bipartisan basis--for these vital veterans health care programs. The Democratic budget provides the full committee-recommended level of $32.3 billion for 2005, and includes $6.6 billion more than the Republican budget over the next 5 years. The Democratic budget will: improve access and reduce waiting time for all veterans; meet statutory requirements for long-term care by increasing the current number of nursing home beds to 1998 levels; reduce or eliminate the increased co-payments and enrollment fees proposed in the President's budget; increase funds for medical facility construction and renovation; and provide the resources necessary for more responsive reviews of claims and appeals. Lord knows, Mr. Chairman, our veterans desperately need these improvements. Basic complaints from veterans I have talked to in South Texas have focused on access, waiting times, and a severe lack of in-patient care in close proximity. We must be guided on spending for veterans by this fact: the numbers of soldiers coming home will rapidly increase the population of veterans needing services, from health care to education. This year, accounting changes at CBO will kill the hugely successful Military Housing Privatization Initiative that leverages defense money to build quality housing for military families. This Budget Resolution effectively cancels adequate family housing for almost 50,000 military families. I have a personal attachment to the housing privatization initiative--it was conceived in Kingsville, TX, out of a need to leverage Navy dollars for quality housing for military families. With toilets falling through the roofs of housing in South Texas--and no money to build other housing--the need was great--and so was our creativity. The program was a great success. Defense Secretary Perry became a big fan of the program in its second year and then made it service-wide. This is the very best way to get better housing at our military bases, at the best price to taxpayers. I am disappointed that the budget does not meet the long-term needs of our veterans and our military families.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 254, which improves elements of the North American Development Bank, the mission of which is to leverage Federal funding to borrowing entities to improve the infrastructure for water conservation and irrigation. Most importantly, this bill says the board of the North American Development Bank should support qualified water conservation projects in the lower Rio Grande Valley, a show of the importance of the injury to south Texas regarding Mexico's noncompliance with the 1944 water treaty. This bill enables the North American Development Bank to make grants and nonmarket rate loans out of its paid-in capital resources with the approval of its board of directors for qualified water conservation projects. I am so grateful to the gentleman from south Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) for carrying the water for us on this bill and trying to help educate the Members of this House about the travesty that we have lived through in south Texas in the Rio Grande Valley as a result of Mexico's noncompliance with our international treaty. In this bill we formalize the following findings: That Texas irrigators and agricultural producers are suffering enormous hardships in the lower Rio Grande River Valley because of Mexico's failure to abide by the 1944 water treaty entered into by the United States and Mexico; That over the last 10 years, Mexico has accumulated a 1.5 million acre-feet water debt to the United States which has resulted in a very minimal and inadequate irrigation water supply in Texas; That recent studies by Texas A&M University show that water savings of 30 percent or more can be achieved by improvements in irrigation system infrastructure such as canal lining and metering; That the North American Development Bank's Water Conservation Investment Fund offered up to $80 million for grant financing of water conservation projects which grant funds, the money divided equally between the United States and Mexico. While South Texas farmers were disappointed, to say it mildly, that farmers in Mexico were granted equal status with Mexico in the division of these funds, the money is certainly better than nothing. We appreciate the gentleman from Nebraska and the rest of the Members who realize that we have a very, very serious business to do in South Texas with this bill. I hope that all the Members will support this bill.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below. Rollcall Vote No. 42 ``yea''; rollcall Vote No. 43 ``yea''; rollcall Vote No. 44 ``yea''; rollcall Vote No. 45 ``yea''; rollcall Vote No. 46 ``yea''; and rollcall Vote No. 47 ``yea.'' personal explanation

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below. Rollcall No. 32 ``yes''; rollcall No. 33 ``yes''; rollcall No. 34 ``yes''; rollcall No. 35 ``yes''; and rollcall No. 36 ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to inclement weather and travel delays from my district, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below. Rollcall No. 25, ``yes''; rollcall No. 26, ``yes''; rollcall No. 27, ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below. Rollcall No. 12 ``yes''; Rollcall No. 13 ``yes''; Rollcall No. 14 ``yes''; Rollcall No. 15 ``yes''; Rollcall No. 16 ``yes''; Rollcall No. 17 ``yes''; and Rollcall No. 18 ``yes''.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, as we take up H.R. 743, the Social Security Protection Act, for a third time in the 108th Congress, I cannot help but feel we still find ourselves with a flawed piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, the original intent of this bill was a worthy one, to reimburse Social Security benefits if people representing the recipient misuse them. That is not controversial. But the provision reducing the spousal Social Security benefits for countless teachers, school support personnel, police officers, firefighters and other public servants is most certainly controversial; and I intend to oppose the entire bill since it contains this provision and will adversely affect teachers and others across our State. Let me say one thing, when teachers work one day, that does not mean that they are going to qualify to get a Social Security benefit for 30 years. What it means is that their spouses who have paid in 30 or 40 or 50 years into the Social Security system and then they die, that is money that they have earned, the family has put into Social Security. That is the money that you will get. Now we need to understand that targeting pensions of teachers and other school employees will discourage qualified individuals from entering the classroom at exactly the same time the Nation is experiencing a shortage of teachers. We say we are committed to education, yet in this bill we are profoundly uncommitted to educators. I am also a co-sponsor of H.R. 594, a bill introduced in the 108th Congress that will eliminate the Government Pension Offset and windfall elimination provisions that target our teachers and other public servants by denying them the opportunity to retain their full Social Security benefits. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that this provision was included in an otherwise good bill because the rest of the bill is a good bill, and I compliment my friends.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below.-- Roll Call No. 6, Yes. Roll Call No. 7, Yes. Roll Call No. 8, Yes. Roll Call No. 9, Yes. Roll Call No. 10, Yes. Roll Call No. 11, Yes.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise before you to recognize a tremendous public servant from my district. Mr. James Springfield, President and Chief Executive Officer for Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen, Texas, was recently named ``Young Healthcare Executor of the Year'' by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a national organization based in Chicago. Mr. Springfield will receive the 2004 Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award on March 1 at the Parker B. Francis Distinguished Lecture Hall during ACHE's 47th Congress on Healthcare Management in Chicago. The Hudgens Award is presented annually to an exceptional healthcare executive who is less than 40 years old and who is the chief executive officer or chief operating officer of a health services organization. A native of Georgia, Mr. Springfield attended Baylor University in Waco where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He earned a Master's in Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Houston--Clear Lake. His awards include the ``Emerging Leader'' and the ``Regents Award'' from the American College of Healthcare Executives as well as serving as a Diplomate for the College. He received the ``Distinguished Alumnus'' award from the University of Houston--Clear Lake. The Rotary International Foundation also awarded Mr. Springfield the Paul Harris Fellow Award. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this unique patriot. James Springfield has dedicated his life to the field of healthcare and he represents a level of professionalism and achievement.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to commend the 2003 ``Mr. Amigo,'' Bertha Noeggerath, better known as ``Dulce,'' chosen recently by the Mr. Amigo Association of Brownsville, TX, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in Mexico. Each year the Mr. Amigo Association honors a Mexican citizen with the title of ``Mr. Amigo,'' and that person acts as a goodwill ambassador between our two countries. The Mr. Amigo Award began in 1964 as an annual tribute to an outstanding Mexican citizen who has made a lasting contribution during the previous year to international solidarity and goodwill. ``Mr. Amigo''' presides over the annual Charro Days Festival. The Charro Days Festival is a pre-Lenten event, much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, held in Brownsville and Matamoros. Charro Days festivities last for several days; this year they will be February 25- 28 and will include parades and appearances by Dulce. Charro Days is an opportunity to enjoy the unique border culture of the Rio Grande Valley area. As Mr. Amigo 2003, Dulce will head the international parade of Brownsville Charro Days and Matamoros Fiestas Mexicanas festivities. During Charro Days, South Texans celebrate the food, music, dances, and traditions of both the United States and Mexico. The United States- Mexican border has a unique, blended history of cowboys, bandits, lawmen, farmers, fishermen, oil riggers, soldiers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and teachers. The border has its own language and customs. On both sides of the border, there is a deep sense of history, much of which the border has seen from the front row. We have seen war and peace; we have known prosperity and bad times. Charro Days is a time for all of us to reflect on our rich history, to remember our past and to celebrate our future. The 2003 Mr. Amigo, Dulce is a musician and actress who continues to have a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. She is originally from Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Her music career began while singing in small nightclubs in her hometown in the early 1990's, before joining the group ``Toby y sus Amigos.'' Her 27-year career includes not only Gold Records and several Spanish-language hits, but numerous television appearances and work in Mexican telenovelas, including ``Sonadoras'' and ``Mujeres Enganadas,'' with Andres Garcia, Laura Leon, Kuno Becker and Susana Gonzalez. This year she joins the cast of ``Las Vias del Amor.'' The Mr. Amigo Committee selected Dulce because ``she is a good role model for local youths interested in the arts,'' and because ``through her acting and her music she represents the Mexican culture.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Dulce Noeggerath, the 2003 Mr. Amigo, as well as the cities of Brownsville and Matamoros, for their dedication to international goodwill between the United States and Mexico.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to another fallen patriot, United States Army Pvt. Rey David Cuervo, who gave the last full measure of devotion to the Nation of which he was not yet a citizen when he was killed in Iraq after his vehicle hit an explosive device in Baghdad. After almost 5 years in the United States Army, Pvt. Rey Cuervo, a 24-year-old from Laguna Vista, was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Baghdad, based out of Fort Polk, LA. Pvt. Cuervo was one of an estimated 50,000 legal permanent residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces when he died for the country he loved and the ideals he believed in. He died for the United States as a foreign national in the Army . . . and he won his citizenship posthumously. This is an important point to make to the House of Representatives at a time when many of our members are raising their voices against those who want to have a national policy that appreciates the actual faces of immigrants in this country who wish to be citizens here. This brave young man was not here to take a job from a citizen. These soldiers play a big part in defending the country. They believe in the hope and opportunity they feel when they come to this country. This young man's death may serve to educate some members of Congress about the importance of soldiers who put their life on the line, be they born in this Nation . . . or new to this Nation. To date, five Mexican nationals have died in the war in Iraq. The willingness of Cuervo and the others to fight and die for the United States is an illustration of the love of this Nation from our immigrant community, and of the extraordinary relationship between the United States and Mexico. Mr. Speaker, the entire community of South Texas mourns this fine young man. I ask my colleagues to join me today in commending the life and service of United States Army Pvt. Rey Cuervo, and in expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to his family.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very special organization in Brownsville, Texas: Good Neighbor Settlement House, a non-profit related to the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. They have been serving the needy people in the Brownsville-South Texas area for 50 years, and I commend them for their longevity in doing the most important work neighbors can do: taking care of each other. December 11 marks their 50th anniversary, and their work will be celebrated in Cameron County. Just last year, Good Neighbor Settlement House served meals to 57,000 men, women and children in our community. They provided a variety of services to over 100,000 people--including rental assistance, clothing, food, after-school programs, children's summer programs, and referrals to other social service agencies. In 1953, with the guiding principle ``Helping People Help Themselves,'' Good Neighbor Settlement House launched themselves into the business of their mission: to provide the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, meals, housing assistance and educational programs to the needy. Just a few examples of their unique offering to the low-income families in Brownsville: the Mother's Club, a gathering of women who quilt to help supplement their income; family budgeting classes (with American Express) to help families maximize their resources and be self-sufficient; and Las Culturas (with Cameron Works/United Way) offers music and dance classes for young children. In today's economy, our need for the Good Neighbor Settlement House is every bit as urgent as it was 50 years ago. Because of our government's reductions in social programs to help the needy--in favor of tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans--the less fortunate are facing ever more serious economic hardships. Today we celebrate both Good Neighbor Settlement House's dedication to the less fortunate on this anniversary . . . and their commitment to the principle of giving people what they need to fend for themselves: if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day--if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this 50th anniversary of Good Neighbor Settlement House's work in South Texas.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in fond memories of our friend and colleague, Joe Skeen, easily one of the most even- handed, honest, fair legislators elected to the House of Representatives. Joe was only a little more senior than me, but his route here was considerably more entertaining than most of ours. Joe was elected as a write-in candidate over another write-in candidate and the nephew of the sitting governor. He made history, becoming the third Member ever to win election to Congress without being on a ballot. For the next 22 years, Joe served with us in Congress, making excellent representation for his home district in New Mexico the standard of his service. He chaired the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Those he represented in New Mexico could have had no better steward in Congress. He was tireless in representing the needs of ranchers and farmers in his role as an appropriations cardinal. Joe was my friend, and he was my neighbor on the third floor of Rayburn where we would often visit in each other's office. He spoke Spanish, and he spoke the all-important language of bipartisanship. Joe Skeen was the best example of how a member of this House should comport themselves in any circumstance. He did more than just talk the talk, he walked the walk on bipartisanship, an art often lost in the House of Representatives today. He was a pragmatist, and he was a guy who really enjoyed life, teasing colleagues and playing practical jokes. He was truly a gentleman, and he made our work here in the halls of Congress more pleasant when he was involved. I join my colleagues here in the House in offering our collective and individual sympathies to Joe's wife Mary and their two children. The House has been a poorer place for Joe's absence. He was a great legislator and an exceptional man.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Porter Cowboys on their incredible season, as they just completed their first- ever winning record and were one win away from a perfect regular season record. In the almost 30 years of the school's history, the Cowboys football team has endured many tough seasons and constant criticism to their program. However, last week they won their first-ever playoff game beating PSJA 45-8 and advanced to the second round of the Texas high school playoffs where they now face Gregory Portland. I wish them the best as they continue their amazing playoff run and season. The Porter Cowboy story is one that has everyone in the community and in the Rio Grande Valley extremely excited and energized. Guided by Coach Jim Helms and his exceptional staff, this talented group of players exceeded virtually all expectations that many had for them coming into the season. Of course, the players and coaches had something else in mind when they were preparing in the off-season and now they are in the middle of a dream season; a season that the faculty, students and families, along with the players, will never forget. As these Porter players make history on the football field they are now only opening the doors to the future in which they will be part of a generation that will make positive changes to the lives of many living in the community. The same determination and commitment they possess on the football field every Friday night will prepare them to respond accordingly when faced with life's challenges and obstacles. The Porter Nation as they have come to be known were led by their star quarterback and he was surrounded by a cast of gifted athletes that contributed to the success of the stellar season. The arsenal in the passing game, complemented with a tremendous defense and an excellent kicking game enabled them to truly dominate their opponents. I am so proud of these guys and wish them the best as they continue to achieve their goals both on the field and in the classroom. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that the roster with the names of each player, coach, and trainer be inserted in the Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives. 2003 Porter Cowboys Football Varsity Roster Chris Walker, Evy Chavez, Emmanuel Gutierrez, Rick Monsivais, Jason Bernard, Chris Vasquez, Billy Garza, Ivan Villarreal, Michael Verduzco, Mike Salazar, Manuel Hernandez, Steve Garcia, Jimmy Gutierrez, Benny Salazar, Moises Salinas, Ivan Iglesias, and Louie Pineda. Rogelio Camarillo, Ben Gomez, Jesus Chapa, Carlos Lozano, Angel Ramirez, Jesus Ferrer, Luis Cruz, Jose lzaguirre, Thomas J. Rios, Joe Espinoza, Juan Leal, Javier Ruiz, Josh Burguete, Eli Perez, Ernesto Olivarez, Isaac Almaguer, and Omar Avila. David Pallares, Emmanuel Lopez, Eliseo Balderas, Christian Lara, Stephen Cisneros, Eber Flores, David Diaz, Julian Mendez, Oscar De Los Santos, Juan Pena, Julius Williams, Frankie Ramirez, Danny Palacios, Juan Perez, Jose Guerra, Will Jaramillo, and Gilbert Flores. Athletic Director: Joe A. Rodriguez. Athletic Coordinator: Jim Helms. Football Assistants: Art Cantu, Ruben Cortez, Bill Deen, Luis Garza, Benny Gonzalez, James Kizer, Abel Moreno, Danny Pardo, Armando Rangel, Tom Rios, Jeffrey Rodriguez, and Jose Luis Zarate. Trainers: John Prosek and Jerry San Pedro.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer my condolences to the Turkish people and the Turkish government for the horrific terrorist attacks in Istanbul on November 15 and 20. As al Qaeda has proved again and again, they intend to fight this 21st Century's first global war against civilians and non-combatants. As we have proved again and again, we will fight this war wherever it flares up. And we will win, because we have the fortitude to do the right thing. Turkey is one of our strongest allies in the fight on global terrorism--and has repeatedly stood by our side in NATO matters (as a NATO ally) and in the war on terror, in understated ways. I have a number of friends and people we know there, that I met on numerous House Armed Services Committee trips to visit NATO allies. All South Texans condemn the cowardly and senseless killing of innocent people in Turkey, one of the finest examples of a democracy in practice, and one of the few Muslim nations to practice democracy. We have shared principles of democracy, freedom, tolerance and the pursuit of peace--and today we stand with our Turkish friends. Those who opposed democracy will eventually learn that to kill democracy is to kill all those who love democracy. Al Qaeda doesn't have enough bombs to kill all those who love democratic principals around the world. My family and I are praying for the families and victims injured and perished in this atrocity. The United States Congress hereby offers our judgment that this attack was cowardly, and we stand with our Turkish friends in this hour of great loss.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, this bill requires a plan for in-patient services for veterans in south Texas by January 31, 2004, either through VA or through contracts with private hospitals. Of course, I would like to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson), for his help in finding more health services for our veterans; and also my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith); the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Simmons), my good friend; the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans); and, of course, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), who intervened at a critical point to ensure south Texas was kept in this bill. In my district I have four military installations. Through the years, we know what happens when a veteran gets ready to retire. What he does is he moves close to a military installation. Well, in this case the hospital that we had was shut down several years ago. But now under this bill and with this contract that they are talking about, opening up for in-patient care, it gives hope to the veterans who live in the area. Mr. Speaker, we have veterans from the Second World War and the Korean War. Some of them are bed-ridden, and it takes 6 to 7 hours for them to go to the nearest VA hospital, which happens to be in San Antonio. I think that part of the healing process is the idea of being close to your family. But when you are removed from your family and have to travel and take that patient away from his family to a point that is 200 to 300 miles away, it does not work. They deserve no less than this. The Lord knows that these VA patients and veterans have waited for a long, long time. I am glad that this bill is also honoring my good friend that I got to know for a long time, Bob Stump from Arizona. I am glad that we are honoring his memory. Please, I ask my friends to vote for this bill.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, Congress created Medicare in 1965 to make healthcare affordable and available for all senior citizens. My colleagues and I have fought to maintain this original intent. Today, the leaders in Congress are pushing dangerous legislation-- called Medicare reform--on South Texas seniors that fails to include an adequate prescription drug benefit while privatizing Medicare, killing the program at the end of the decade. This prescription drug ``coverage'' is not what seniors expect or deserve. When seniors have more than $2,200 in drugs costs, they will hit a gap, where Medicare will no longer cover the costs of their prescriptions until they reach $5,000. When this happens, these seniors will be forced to pay 100% out of their own pockets while still paying monthly premiums. Meanwhile, their HMOs will select their doctors and their pharmacies. Over 185 organizations with an interest in seniors' issues are wholly opposed to this bill. While one of the largest senior organizations has lent support to this bill (The American Association of Retired Persons, AARP), it is the only one to do so . . . it is the only one that provides insurance to seniors at a profit of $635 million . . . and the only one poised to take advantage of billions of dollars in the bill to entice private insurers to cover seniors. The bill effectively ends drug reimportation by allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to decide what prescriptions could be reimported. The HHS Secretary has already said he would allow none. If this is not the answer, what is? I stand on my record, voting 8 times for a complete Medicare Rx drug plan . . . voting 6 times and co- sponsoring 6 bills supporting higher reimbursements to doctors and hospitals . . . voting 6 times not to kill Medicare . . . and voting 8 times and co-sponsoring 3 bills to improve rural healthcare. Nothing in this bill makes prescription drugs cheaper. Other Federal programs, such as the Veteran's Administration, get cheap drugs negotiating directly with the big drug companies. The plan will keep the government from negotiating for lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. This plan protects the profits of drug manufactures instead of providing real savings to seniors. Rising drug prices are unaddressed in this bill, a victory for the drug industry for preventing any attempts to lower drug prices. Meanwhile, the value of some seniors' property will be used to determine their level of coverage--including jewelry, cars, and other property of value for which they worked their entire lives. In South Texas, for the short term anyway, the bill (which would not take effect until 2006) would help only about 30% of low-income seniors. Effectively, that means this bill will not help over two- thirds of our most needly seniors. When I think about the seniors that bill will affect, I think of the ladies who took care of me as I grew up of Robstown, Texas. Life for them revolves around family and children, paying the bills and finding health care in their senior years. These are the people affected by the bill, which ends Medicare as we know it, privatizing the entire progrm by the end of the decade. It is thousands of South Texans like these who have raised voices in opposition to this bill. I stand with them. Medicare has been a trust between the government and those who do the hard work in our society, our senior citizens. Too many seniors depend on Medicare for their healthcare needs, and I will not support a bill that destroys that trust.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to inclement weather and travel delays from my district, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below. Rollcall No. 624: ``yes''; rollcall No. 625: ``yes''; rollcall No. 626: ``yes''; rollcall No. 627 ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to official business in my district, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below. Rollcall No. 620, ``yes''; rollcall No. 621, ``yes''; rollcall No. 622, ``yes''; and rollcall No. 623, ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to business in my district, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below. Rollcall No. 612, ``yes''; rollcall No. 613, ``yes''; rollcall No. 614, ``yes''; rollcall No. 615, ``yes''; rollcall No. 616. ``yes''; rollcall No. 617. ``yes''; rollcall No. 618, ``no''' rollcall No. 619, ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Duncan Hunter and Ranking Democrat Ike Skelton for their leadership on this important bill. Our young men and women in uniform are performing magnificently right now in Iraq in a difficult and developing mission. They are also performing magnificently in Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world where the global war on terror takes us. It falls to the Congress to make sure our troops have what they need to prosecute this war on all fronts. Certainly all of Congress agrees that our soldiers in the field deserve to get all they need, no matter what. The central feature of today's bill is a huge step forward on the issue of concurrent receipt. Finally, we are acknowledging the inherent unfairness of having long-time service members chose between retiree pay and disability. We didn't get nearly what we wanted, nor what these military retirees deserve . . . but we made significant progress on advancing the cause of expanding the phase-in of concurrent receipt. This bill provides much needed support for our military including: a pay raise of 4.15 percent for uniformed services, further reducing out- of-pocket expenses for servicemembers, increasing allowances for family separation and danger pay, and modestly increasing the force structure of the Army and active Reserves and National Guard. DOD did not get all the power it wanted when it comes to contracting out civilian jobs, but I am very uncertain about what lies ahead for civilian workers. We made some progress in the negotiations, but the strong language in the House bill put quite a pall over the future of a viable civilian service. We have a very tough road ahead. And, I maintain the Secretary is just wrong on this one--a strong civilian workforce performs the core functions of the military better, and cheaper, in-house. Today's package, and our passage of it speaks, we hope, to the needs of our military and offers them the concrete understanding that this Congress considers our military men and women our ultimate responsibility. As we move forward, I will be working to do more to ensure our military retirees eventually get a full concurrent receipt. I will keep a very close eye on the plans and activities of the Department of Defense as they proceed with their plans for civil service workers. I want to ensure that our civil service workers remain the viable, strong workforce our national security demands.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to official business, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below: Rollcall No. 576, ``yes;'' rollcall No. 577, ``yes;'' rollcall No. 578, ``yes;'' and rollcall No. 579, ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary educator and patriot, Arnold Saavedra. The product of a strong family, he was raised with his three siblings to understand the importance of education. His parents taught their children that teachers have a mighty impact on the lives of the students they teach. His father taught in a one- room schoolhouse in Duval County. The lessons of his family were not lost on any of the children; each one became a teacher, on a mission to make the lives of children better through education. One day when he was in the 7th grade, Mr. Saavedra glanced out the classroom window and saw the football coach out in the field with the players. At that moment, he knew he wanted to be a coach and teacher. He taught and coached at a number of Corpus Christi Independent School District schools from 1973 through this year. In July 2003, he moved to the Adult Learning Center as the Lead Administrator to apply lessons in learning to adults. In those years when he taught classes and coached young athletes on fields of play, he taught the same lesson he'd learned in his parents' home . . . the key to success in life begins with an education. For 30 years he has shared those lessons with the young people of Corpus Christi. His legacy is in the success of his students. While at Texas A&I College, Mr. Saavedra met and married his college sweetheart, Ida Ortega Saavedra, and she has been his most constant source of support. They have two children, Tricia Dunlap and Arnold Andrew Saavedra, and a granddaughter, Sage Elizabeth Dunlap. Mr. Saavedra will retire on November 25, 2003, after more than 30 years with the Corpus Christi Independent School District. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending him for his life's work.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, the bill we pass today is indeed the least we could possibly do for the young men and women who have carried our battle to the enemy in the global war in which we are engaged. We should be ashamed that the Congress is only now providing enhanced civil and economic protections for military personnel on active duty. At a time when we are asking our military to carry an incredibly heavy burden, the Congress is deeply concerned about making life as easy as possible for our servicemembers and their families, and this bill is the way to begin. While our troops are on duty overseas and elsewhere, separated from their families and--in the case of Guard and Reserve troops called up-- struggling on less salary than they make in the civilian world, we are hopeful this legislation will help those military families better cope with economic challenges. This bill would increase the death gratuity payable to the families of deceased members of the Armed Forces and to exclude such gratuity from gross income. The intent is to assist surviving family of active duty service members with immediate expenses following notification of the death of a loved one. This bill would double the death gratuity from $6,000 to $12,000 and apply it retroactively to all deaths after September 10, 2001. The bill would also exempt from taxation the full $12,000 payment. Currently, only $3,000 of the current payment of $6,000 is exempt from taxation. Given our experience here in South Texas in helping families who have lost loved ones, I can tell you that this Congress can do much more financially to ease their suffering, but I'm pleased that at least we are no longer taxing their death benefits.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the subcommittee, the ranking member and the chairman, and especially the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez). I also want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson), who has been a champion for our veterans and their interests, both in Ohio and south Texas and the rest of the Nation. Finding a way to get inpatient health care services for our veterans in south Texas has been a long journey, and it is a labor of love for all involved. We first began this journey 21 years ago. We know the debt we owe our veterans today. The soldiers we send forth in today's war on terrorism are tomorrow's veterans. As liberty must be defended, the population of veterans in the United States and south Texas will continue to grow. I have worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs for a long time to bring improved services to the long-ignored population of veterans living in the tip of Texas. The VA has responded with their approach through the CARES program. It is long overdue for the VA to look seriously at the long-term needs and service delivery for the population they serve. Can my colleagues imagine, those who served the military from the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, they have to travel all the way to San Antonio, a journey of about anywhere from 2\1/2\ to 7 hours. Some of them are bedridden. There is no ambulance service. We are working on that. But thanks to the support that the VA has given me and the other Members who have needs in their districts, we really thank them for all the help that they have given us. There are presently no inpatient services in this market, other than a limited contract in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and limited access to specialty care patients. Patients must now travel a long, long journey. Opportunities exist to reduce this gap by working with DOD in Corpus Christi, as well as the University of Texas Regional Health Care Academic Center in Harlingen. Two submarkets were identified: Coastal Bend, Corpus Christi and surrounding area, and Rio Grande Valley, including Brownsville, Harlingen and surrounding areas, because transportation between these areas is difficult, involving secondary roads which take considerable travel time. It was an area that we had no interstate highways, no freeways until the last 10, 12 years. So to travel to get to the facility was long and hard. So I want to thank again the subcommittee and the full committee for addressing this need and for working with us. Again, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson), so much for the help he gave me on this bill.