Solomon Ortiz

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the long-awaited legislation this nation has desperately needed since the 9/11 attacks on our democracy . . . yet which was pushed to the back burner by the previous Congress. I'm proud that--within the first 100 legislative hours of this Congress--we are considering this bill to make our Nation safer by implementing the 9/11 Commission's recommendations left out of the Intelligence Reform bill in 2004. The bill also goes beyond the Commission's recommendations by requiring, within five years, 100 percent scanning of U.S.-bound shipping containers. I represent two major ports in South Texas--the Port of Brownsville and the Port of Corpus Christi, which also has a strategic sealift command--and the array of possibilities for terrorists to access our Nation through shipping containers is amazing and horrifying. Implementing the Commission's recommendations will make us safer by enhancing homeland security, strengthening efforts to stop the proliferation of WMD, and promoting strategies to reduce the appeal of extremism, particularly in Muslim parts of the world. Today, we are--at long last--making a number of substantial improvements to homeland security, including: distributing homeland security grants on the basis of risk alone; creating a stand-alone grant program for interoperable communications for first responders; requiring a 100 percent inspection of air cargo over the next 3 years; accelerating the installation of explosive detection systems for checked baggage; and mandating a strategic plan to deploy explosive detection equipment at passenger checkpoints. Today's bill also offers provisions to prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD by creating a U.S. Coordinator for the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism and a blue-ribbon commission to recommend further reforms. We also strengthen efforts to eliminate nuclear black- market networks, easily the greatest danger to the civilized nations of the world. Through this bill we offer strategies to reduce the appeal of extremism by providing assistance for expanding modern educational programs for Arab and other Muslim youth around the world, as well as promoting economic opportunities, education reform, human rights, and democratic processes in the countries of the Middle East. This is a good day for this nation . . . and when the president signs this bill into law, we will be a safer nation.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, this bill on the floor today represents the way we hope to proceed with our colleagues in the new Congress: bipartisan cooperation on matters important to the American people. Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee moved quickly to ensure the lame duck Congress repealed some of the mistakes made in the just-passed Defense authorization bill. Today we begin by reinstating the remarkably candid and useful office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Democrats are talking to our colleagues and incoming leaders, and with the current leaders of Congress, attempting to take care of some of the most important things that have been ignored by Congress during this decade. In the instance of trying to keep the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, we wanted to act quickly in the lame duck, so that one tiny component of the transparency we actually already have does not go away. In the coming Congress we will be holding hearings to get a better understanding of what is actually going on in the field. Transparency and accountability will be the watchwords of the day. In order for this Congress to get the confidence of the American people, we must be painfully honest about everything that is going on . . . and let the chips fall where they may. The only thing worse than wasting the taxpayer's money, is hiding that fact. I thank Mr. Skelton for his leadership with Chairman Hunter. Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful we are considering this legislation to extend the date for termination of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, SIGIR. This office provides a hugely important function as a watchdog for fraud, waste, and abuse of funds intended for Iraq reconstruction programs. The American taxpayer deserves vigorous and continuous oversight of how funds are being spent in Iraq. It is also important to the Iraqi people, for whom the American Government provided a generous package of development and reconstruction funds that have not always been spent wisely. I have made 15 trips to Iraq and have seen firsthand the essential work done by this office. Congress clearly made a mistake in passing the fiscal year 2007 Defense Authorization Act allowing the SIGIR office to close prematurely. This legislation will correct that mistake and also wisely require SIGIR to prepare a final forensic audit on all funds appropriated to the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund, IRRF. As chairman of the Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, and working under the leadership of Committee Chairman Tom Davis, I have held several oversight hearings on contracting in Iraq. We've investigated the failure to establish realistic requirements and to define contract terms and conditions, limited competition and insufficient agency oversight. Reports provided to us by SIGIR were invaluable. We all recognize that the security situation in Iraq makes reconstruction especially difficult and dangerous. But the Government has a responsibility to the taxpayer to do all that it can to ensure that dollars are spent wisely and well. We have a special responsibility to our soldiers and marines in Iraq. One of the most important reasons Congress appropriated money for Iraq reconstruction was to support our troops by showing the Iraqi people we wanted to help them build a new Iraq, and reduce the risk that an insurgency would develop and grow. We know the insurgency exists and sectarian violence has flared, but the importance of the projects funded through the IRFF has not diminished in the slightest. Finally, I believe a strong watchdog office like SIGIR will help us to learn lessons about the realities of contracting in a post-conflict environment. I am grateful my colleagues in the Senate, Susan Collins and Joseph Lieberman, offered this legislation. I also thank Mr. Skelton who offered this legislation in the House and recognized the need to continue SIGIR's mission.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chair of the Azerbaijan Caucus, I rise to congratulate one of our key democratic allies--the Republic of Azerbaijan--as it prepares to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of its independence on October 18. Azerbaijan is one of the United States' leading allies on the war against terrorism, with the distinction of being among the first to offer our nation unconditional support; providing airspace and airport use for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghistan. And, AzerbaIjan was also the first Muslim nation to send troops to Iraq. Though bilateral cooperation on terrorism issues between the United States and Azerbaijan predates September 11, 2001, our relations were strengthened following their immediate, and heretofore unwavering, support against the war on terrorism. Azerbaijan cooperates with the United States within international and regional institutions including the UN, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Regionally, Azerbaijan works together with the United States within the framework of the Organization for Democracy and Development--GUAM which is comprised of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. GUAM was created as a political, economic and strategic alliance in order to collaboratively address common risks and threats and thereby strengthen the independence and sovereignty of its member states. The Republic of Azerbaijan is a standout nation among the South Caucasus countries, with a population of 8 million people and an ambitious economic policy. During the last decade Azerbaijan has been implementing structural reforms and adopting numerous laws and legislative changes, paving the way toward further integration with in the global economy. The nation has been moving toward a more diversified economy to achieve sustainable growth and to meet the social and development needs of its population. Diversification of the economy and ensuring the development of non- oil sectors is a priority for the government. This policy includes implementation of projects and programs that create favorable conditions for development of private entrepreneurship, attracting investment in non-oil sectors, creating new jobs, evaluation of potential industries and markets and development of infrastructure in the regions. The last 15 years of independence has not been without challenges, but the country has grown stronger with each new challenge it faces. Let us today commend the Republic of Azerbaijan on their forthcoming 15th Anniversary celebrations. And, let us also commit ourselves to their continued development as a global partner against the terrorism, toward economic growth, diversification of energy resources, and strengthening stability and security in the region.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague from Texas, Mr. Doggett, for his work in getting the McAllen courthouse named for my dear friend, our former colleague, Kika de la Garza. It is fitting that after a long and distinguished career as a lawmaker, the McAllen courthouse, which dispenses justice in the Rio Grande Valley, will bear the name of the former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Kika de la Garza was instrumental in passing many of the laws under which many people will be judged. The former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee is a son of South Texas and a man who understood completely the unique culture of the Rio Grande Valley and the culture of Capitol Hill. While his expertise was in agriculture, Chairman de la Garza made a legendary lesson of how food was integral to our military warfighters. He famously asked the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee so long ago, ``How long can a submarine stay under water?'' After listening to a long and detailed discourse on the capabilities of submarines from the Armed Services Committee Chairman, Chairman de la Garza responded, ``That's not right, sir. A sub can only stay under water as long as the food supply lasts.'' Kika de la Garza is a giant in the history of the United States Congress, of South Texas and in the hearts of all of those of us who know and love him. It is a fitting tribute that this courthouse will bear the name of Kika de la Garza.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, while this bill provides important funding that is very late in coming for our border security, there are still holes in the funding Congress has passed . . . and what the 9-11 Commission said was the least the Congress should do to combat the terrorist threat. Let us use the Intelligence Reform bill that became law in December, 2004, as a benchmark of what this nation must do to try and control the security of our borders: the bill mandated 10,000 Border Patrol agents over 5 years (2,000 annually) and 40,000 detention beds over 5 years (8,000 annually). Here is a compilation of all the funding bills the Congress has passed that have become law--including the bill passed today, laying out how many Border Patrol agents and how many detention beds we have actually funded: Emergency Supplemental in 2005 (Passed May 2005), 500 Border Patrol Agents, 1,950 Detention Beds; FY06 Homeland Security Conference Report (Passed October 2005), 1,000 Border Patrol Agents, 1,800 Detention Beds; Emergency Supplemental in 2006 (Passed June 2006), 1,000 Border Patrol Agents, 4,000 Detention Beds; Add in what we are passing today: FY07 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 1,500 Border Patrol Agents, 4,870 Detention Beds; Our grand total of what we should have done according to the 9-11 Commission to date is: 4,000 Border Patrol Agents and 16,000 detention beds. While we are finally caught up on paying for the least the 9-11 Commission said we should do for Border Patrol agents, we are still 1,550 short on detention beds. Never let it be said that we did the least we could do--this Congress is paying for less than what the 9-11 Commission said was the least we should do. And let me add that it took a national guilt trip and backlash to get this Congress to pay for the least amount of Border Patrol agents the 9-11 Commission demanded. What has appalled so many of us is that DHS is releasing thousands of illegal immigrants into the general population of the U.S. because they simply do not have the detention space to hold them. These illegal immigrants--also referred to as OTMs (other than Mexicans)--are given what they call ``walking papers'' and are released on their own recognizance with an order to appear at a deportation hearing weeks after their release. In fact, they are asked where they are traveling to in order to give them a hearing near their final destination. Of course, they rarely return. This is hurting the morale of our U.S. Border Patrol Agents and it is a misguided process. Because of ``catch and release'' the number of immigrants who have come across our borders has significantly increased. According to the April 2006 Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report here's what underfunding border security means: 774,112 illegal immigrants were apprehended during the past three years. Of those, 280,987--or 36 pecent--were released largely due to a lack of personnel, bed space and funding. Our willful neglect of our border security had galled our fellow citizens. As a political gesture, this Administration and this Congress want to build a wall and militarize the border? That's not what we need. We need to keep our promises to the American people and fund the promises we made. We must send a clear message that when you cross our borders illegally, you will be caught and detained. I get our desperate fiscal situation. But compromising border security is not the way to trim the deficit. At some point, this Congress must deal with the national security risks that remains with the very large number of OTMs released into the general population who are still unaccounted for. Funding the effort to locate all the released OTMs is going to make paying for the minimum number of agents and beds seem like child's play.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill. I want to thank Chairman Hunter and Mr. Skelton for their skills and leadership in addressing the military issues before us today. I want to thank Chairman Hefley for your friendship, for your leadership and for so many years you and I have worked together. I will always remember the good that you have done for this country and for those young men and women who are in harm's way. I know that you are too young to retire, but I wish you the best in whatever you do, and we are going to miss you around here. This bill provides, in some measure, for the needs of our troops and their families. One of the most important parts of this bill is the attention given to the immediate readiness needs of our men and women in uniform. The bill takes some action to address the shortfalls in operations, training and maintenance funding that the Department of Defense failed to address in their budget submission. Now we have taken care of our most immediate readiness need, although we have long-term needs we have not yet begun to address, but I can tell you this is a very, very good beginning. When we come back to this in the next Congress, again after we recess, we need to particularly address the lack of equipment for the National Guard and for the Reserves. The National Guard and Reserves have been as busy as the active duty military in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they need to be considered equal in status with the other partners in our fighting efforts. The equipment shortfalls for the National Guard mean we will be unable to respond as we need to do in the next natural disaster, or God forbid, another war. I thank Chairman Hunter, Chairman Hefley for their outstanding work, but I want to thank my ranking member, Ike Skelton, the top Democrat on the committee whose outstanding leadership has gone a long way to address the many shortfalls in our defense budget, while balancing the need for our military to remain the world's premier fighting force. So I ask my friends, my colleagues to support this bill. It includes $130 billion in O&M funding to operate the military, $17 billion funding for the military construction, and an additional $20 billion added to the bridge funding to help offset some of the immediate needs of the Army and the Marine Corps. This is a good bill. I want to thank the staff as well for doing a great job.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, each and every Member of this House is equally concerned with bringing terrorists to justice and punishing them for attacking the United States because they have committed horrible crimes. But I have a lot of questions to ask. I want to be sure that I do the right thing. Why are we rushing into this? I know we have to comply with the law, but we should not be in a hurry. I think we need to do what is right. You know, I have some questions. When the Geneva Conventions convened back in 1949, there were at least 200 countries who agreed in what came out of this convention. Are we prepared for other nations' leaders, such as Iran, Syria, and others, to selectively interpret the Conventions' article 3 in a way that we are comfortable with? I am pretty sure that when they met in 1949, there were agreements and disagreements, but we came out with something that everybody accepted. Now there are going to be some changes into that. Have we in any way contacted those leaders of those countries to see what they think about the changes that are being formulated today? I think that we are beginning to open up a can of worms. So we are going to have to be very careful of what we do. The Navy Judge Advocate General, the top lawyer for the Navy, reminded us recently that Geneva exists to protect American soldiers. Our protections are only as strong as the protections of the Geneva Conventions. Mr. Speaker, each and every member of this House is equally concerned with bringing terrorists to justice and punishing them for attacking the United States. Everything about this bill today begs questions. Do we know what we are doing in putting our feet on an unsure path, one which will certainly change the face of our international responsibilities and our international obligations? Why are we rushing this? We should not be in such a hurry to overhaul our international obligations. Nearly 200 nations around the world are signatories to the Geneva Conventions. Are we prepared for other nations' leaders--such as Iran, Syria and others--to selectively interpret the Convention's Article 3 in a way that we are comfortable with? What can of worms are we opening today? The Navy Judge Advocate General, the top lawyer for the Navy, reminded us recently that Geneva exists to protect American soldiers. Our protections are only as strong as the protections Geneva offers. Why are we taking away the Supreme Court's authority--in a historic grab of power--to consult international law in interpreting conduct associated with the War Crimes Act? Are we taking away power from our other Federal courts? Do we remember one of the more salient points raised by the 9-11 Commission that the United States was negligent in staying involved in matters around the world? The 9-11 Commission encouraged the U.S. to get more involved with other nations, to find security in a global environment. Are we doing that today? My grandson Oscar is almost 4 years old. He may be a soldier someday. While his grandfather is in Congress, I will raise my voice to keep our soldiers safe. When Congress gives away power to the President, it is a permanent move. The question each of us must ask is: how wise will this policy seem 10 years from now? And when the Congress gives power to the President, we must understand that the President today will not be in office years down the road. To my friends on the other side of the aisle: do you know the test to apply for this question? It is this: Think of the person you disagree with completely, imagine they are the President, and ask yourself: Do I really want that person to have this authority?

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, it is deeply offensive for this House to continue on a piecemeal approach to the border security and immigration problem. The fact is this Congress has not done any heavy lifting to effectively solve our border security crisis. That's an awful record for the majority party to carry into the election season, so we are forced to deal again with redundant legislation so the majority party can seem to be accomplishing something. But we aren't accomplishing a single thing. What we're doing today--in all these bills--is blowing more hot air at voters who are angry that we say we're doing things to improve our border security--but we never pay for them. Each year since 2001, Democrats have tried to add amendments to defense, homeland security, and emergency supplemental appropriations bills. Not a single one was passed--if they were, we'd have 6,600 more Border Patrol agents, 14,000 more detention beds, and 2,700 more immigration agents. On the border, our not funding our promises brings local law enforcement a very large bill--yet another unfunded mandate. When Border Patrol finds an immigrant lawbreaker--mostly small drug possessions--they take them to the local jail where the local taxpayers foot the bill to hold them. The same local taxpayers then have to pay for the prosecutors and there aren't enough judges. This is a cycle that won't end. Now the House Leadership is cutting up legislation we've already passed into many different bills to make it seem like we are working on this issue. Mr. Speaker, the American people have every right to be angry with this Congress. Let's use the 9-11 legislation they were embarrassed into passing in December 04 as an example. Not only did we not fund most of that bill, breaking many of our promises in it we passed virtually the same bill but added extreme provisions to criminalize those here. In May of 2006, when the Senate passed an astonishingly better bill, the House closed down the process--refused to negotiate a final bill. Instead, they passed an awful bill last December then spent the summer stalling any negotiation with deceptive ``hearings.'' If the House Republicans were serious about border security, they would have moved forward with a House-Senate conference on border security and actual immigration reform legislation. Today--in an effort to appear to have accomplished something, anything related to immigration and border security--we are considering the same bill we passed twice already, just chopped into smaller pieces. This is what it means to fool people. So, let us remember the old wisdom: you can fool some of the people some of the time, but thank God, you can't fool all the people all the time. That, I suppose, is the bad news for the crowd that thinks passing the same bills over and over is good politics. Good politics these days means paying for the Nation's protection and none of these bills take care of that business.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, it almost seems that each day that goes by, this Congress stands idly by while we lose more and more of our fundamental rights. When there is voter fraud--anywhere, anytime election officials must react immediately to right the problem. And at every turn in this democracy, we must work to increase what is still an anemic voter turnout in the world's leading democracy. Where's the problem to solve? The voting problems in recent mid-Atlantic areas were related to the new electronic devices that neither voters--nor poll workers--were familiar with using. This bill is not about integrity or reducing voter fraud--it is all about depressing the number of voters in U.S. elections by requiring all citizens to show proof of citizenship in order to vote. This Congress would have voters show both a drivers license and a birth certificate in order to cast a vote. Where's your birth certificate? Ask those you know born in this country--do you know how to put your hands on your birth certificate? Imagine the difficulty for the elderly, students, the disabled, Native Americans and other minorities in finding that document . . . or perhaps that was imagined when this scheme was conceived. Members of this House should not fear great numbers of voters in elections--we must encourage it. Hispanics in South Texas will be profoundly impacted by this legislation. This bill will suppress turnout and intimidate voters--which is a slap in the face of democracy and our Constitution. Millions of Americans will be denied their right to vote because this Congress is so determined to address a problem that does not really exist. This bill imposes the 2nd poll tax on voters--through this 2nd unfunded mandate for voting requirements on the states. Let us not move backwards on this matter. In my very first election--as Constable in Nueces County, Texas, in 1964--the poll tax was in its final throws . . . but was still the law in Texas. My mother borrowed against her house to help offset my filing fee . . . and to help my voters pay the poll tax. Let's not ever see that day again where citizens are taxed in order to vote . . . let's stop putting unfunded mandate on our states . . . and let's seek more ways to increase voting, not suppress it. We've come too far on civil rights in this Nation to move backwards. Let us act boldly . . . let us find ways to increase voting in the United States, not suppress it, or tax voters to DE-crease voter turnout.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the Border Fence bill. It is yet another instance when the leaders in this Congress chose to ignore the real issues facing Americans and consider legislation this Congress has already passed. I opposed the legislation for the border fence when it was before the House earlier this year and I will oppose it again this time. There is an awful practice this House has consistently gotten into . . . passing bills with great fanfare, then not funding them. That is what we have done with the 9-11 report . . . the Majority was guilted to pass into law the reforms the 9/11 Commission told us would prevent us from another attack. Then we never funded it. This border fence is a profoundly bad policy because it won't work. Yet it is already included in 2 bills passed by the House this year. This is election year politics at its worst. The $2.2 billion it is estimated this bill would cost could fund almost 2,500 new Border Patrol agents for five years, a 22% increase in the force. This is not about security. You want security? Then you want comprehensive immigration reform. This President and this Congress brought us to this place . . . where our Border Patrol agents routinely release OTMs (Other than Mexicans) into the U.S. population because we have no room to hold them. It is in the national security interest of this nation to know who is living inside our borders, and we cannot do that without offering them a path to citizenship so they can come out of the shadows and be part of this economy. That's how you secure this country--not with a fence. As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Border Caucus, I have been advocating for adequate border security funding before it was a political issue this year. In particular I have been concerned with the lack of detention space, the need for adequate technology for our United States Border Patrol, the need for more immigration judges, prosecutors and customs agents, and the importance of sanctions on employers illegally employing immigrants. None of those issues are addressed in the bill before us today. Rather, this bill simply authorizes 700 miles of fencing--again--along the 2,000 mile U.S.-Mexico Border. The Southern part of my district rests along the U.S-Mexico border and my constituents want real solutions. We have 8-10 million people living in this country that we have absolutely no information on. This is a national security issue. In a post September 11th world, we must comprehensively address immigration and border security. When Congress last addressed immigration reform it was in the late 1980s and they did not do it together--that was a mistake and this Congress is going down that same wrong path. Border security and immigration enforcement are very serious issues which deserve solemn debate and discussion in Congress. They are not getting them with this controversial political ploy. Here's a real solution: provide a virtual fence to substantially improve border security and immigration enforcement, as the Reyes- Thompson substitute proposes. Their motion includes provisions to provide the technology, personnel, and equipment needed to monitor and secure every mile of the border 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I urge the members to vote ``no'' on the border fence, and to support the Reyes-Thompson substitute.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a patriotic American honored this month by the--Hispanic Heritage Foundation--Dr. Juliet Garcia of Brownsville, Texas. Dr. Garcia has been a groundbreaker for higher education, becoming the first Mexican American woman in the nation to ascend to the presidency of a university, the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB). She has provided improved higher education opportunities for the people in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. She has led UTB through a phenomenal period of growth and success. The campus has grown from 49 acres to 382 acres, enrollment has increased by 27 percent, and student performance has improved dramatically. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation promotes and celebrates Hispanic culture, education, and accomplishment through year-round national and regional inspirational leadership programs by sponsoring a number of educational and cultural programs, including the Hispanic Heritage Awards, Youth Awards, and the LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) Initiative. The Hispanic Heritage Awards and Ceremony began as a small White House ceremony in 1987 honoring the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 thru October 15. The award is a prestigious honor for Dr. Garcia and is a culmination of the Foundation's year-round efforts. In an evening filled with cultural pride and celebration, the Foundation and the audience honor notable Hispanics who have distinguished themselves as role models in the Hispanic community while making a positive impact in our country. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Hispanic Heritage Awards and the theme of the 2006 ceremony will be ``Looking Back, Moving Forward,'' representing the Hispanic community as part of the history of this Nation and our presence in the Nation's future. I ask the House of Representatives to join me today in commending our Texas pioneer, Dr. Garcia, for her recognition as an outstanding educator that inspires our community, increases individual excellence among young Hispanics, and raises the standard of excellence at UTB.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding non- profit organization: the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation promotes and celebrates Hispanic culture, education, and accomplishment through year-round national and regional inspirational leadership programs by sponsoring a number of educational and cultural programs including the Hispanic Heritage Awards, Youth Awards, and the LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) Initiative. The Hispanic Heritage Awards and Ceremony began as a small White House ceremony in 1987 honoring the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15. The award is a prestigious honor, and is a culmination of the Foundation's year-round efforts. In an evening filled with cultural pride and celebration, the Foundation and the audience honor notable Hispanics who have distinguished themselves as role models in the Hispanic community while making a positive impact in our country. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Hispanic Heritage Awards and the theme of the 2006 ceremony will be ``Looking Back, Moving Forward,'' representing the Hispanic community as part of the history of this Nation, and our presence in the Nation's future. The event will be held September 7, 2006 on the Eisenhower Stage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I ask the House of Representatives to join me today in recognizing such an outstanding organization that strives to inspire education in our community, individual excellence among young Hispanics, and prosperity within our communities.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to travel delays, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 394, ``Yes''; rollcall No. 395, ``Yes''; rollcall No. 396, ``Yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, Tim Friedman has been a presence in the Democratic Cloakroom and the House Floor for 3 decades, from which he now retires as the Assistant Manager of the Democratic Cloakroom. Tim is funny, charming, helpful . . . and is considered practically a family member of the Democratic Members who rely on his understanding of their varying needs and his expertise on the operations of the House of Representatives. He practically grew up in the House. He began his political career with our colleague Dan Rostenkowski, who was an excellent tutor in the world of real politics and practical applications of power. As a young man, Tim was known as a little bit of a ladies man . . . and as an adult, he is a loving husband to Colleen. Tim's nickname is ``Hawk,'' for his amazing ability to spot people anywhere in his line of vision. For someone whose everyday responsibilities include spotting Members of Congress in the crowded chamber, that is a useful skill. Tim has the broad shoulders of Buffalo and the nuanced understanding of government from his long time service on Capitol Hill. He has been a mentor for thousands of young high school-aged Capitol Pages who pass through our program and work for the Congress as messengers and runners. Working in the Democratic Cloakroom and on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives is no easy task. The pace is either painfully slow, or very fast with information and decisions moving and changing rapidly. So it takes a very special person to navigate those waters, a job Tim has done with excellence over the decades he has served the Democratic Leadership and the entire House of Representatives. Tim, we wish you and Colleen good luck--and great golf. The entire House of Representatives owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude and wishes you well on the journey to Wallace, N.C., that you now take beyond our marble floors and columns. Vaya con Dios, mi amigo.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to join me today in reauthorizing the single piece of legislation that has been a guardian of voting rights in our democracy since its inception. Su voto es su voz--Your vote is your voice. The people who vote make decisions in this Nation; and the more people that vote the better this democracy can be. While the government literally represents ``We the People,'' we were actually sent here by voters, which--at best--is about half the people we represent. It is ironic that today, the backdrop for this discussion is the Supreme Court decision on Texas redistricting recently that spoke to the unconstitutionality of how the State divided the Hispanic population in the 2003 map. While I wish we did not need the VRA and to protect minority voters, the bottom line is we still have discrimination in this country--a fact illustrated by the Supreme Court's Texas redistricting decision. My public service began before some of you were born--not that I'm happy to admit that. My first campaign was 1964, the last election year before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 abolished literacy tests and poll taxes--both components of a time when one segment of this Nation could diminish the voting strength of other entire segments of this Nation. My mother took out a $1,000 loan--a fortune for a migrant family in 1964--to bankroll my first campaign. The money was mostly to help offset the poll tax for Hispanic voters, whose priority was putting food on the table for their families. We have improved our democracy since then, but our civil tone in political debates has coarsened. This country, this Congress, will be better--we will reflect the population of this Nation far better--if the VRA is reauthorized. This is a tool for our citizens to use to ensure that their voting rights--the most fundamental tool to speak in this democracy--remains protected. The Voting Rights Act protects voters from discrimination and ensures an even playing field for all voters. The Hispanic Caucus endorsed this bipartisan bill because the renewal of this basic civil rights law will ensure that all Hispanics can fully participate in the political process, protected by law from voting discrimination. Key provisions of the VRA are set to expire in 2007 if they are not reauthorized by Congress, including those that protect voters from discriminatory practices that are used to commit fraud and intimidation. I know many of my colleagues have deep concerns about ensuring that non-native, English-speaking citizens getting language assistance in order to cast an informed ballot. Have you ever read one of those State constitutional amendments as you cast your ballot. Not being a lawyer, it's a little hard to follow. Those receiving language assistance under this bill are taxpaying citizens, equal to all of us in this democracy--every one of them, equal to every one of us. This provision helps citizens navigate complicated rules and ballot language. This House should pass the bill, and I thank Chairman Sensenbrenner and John Conyers for their hard work in bringing a fair and balanced bill to the floor, one which--if this Congress reauthorizes in the end, will continue protecting the voting rights of all Americans. It's exactly the kind of bill the Congress of the United States should pass overwhelmingly and return from a rapid conference so it will continue to provide justice to communities that have long suffered from discrimination--and so it will be the law of the land.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to the memorial service for PFC. Kristian Menchaca 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. 319: ``no''; Rollcall No. 320: ``yes''; Rollcall No. 321: ``yes''; Rollcall No. 322: ``no''; Rollcall No. 323: ``no''; Rollcall No. 324: ``no''; Rollcall No. 325: ``yes''; Rollcall No. 326: ``yes''; Rollcall No. 327: ``yes''; Rollcall No. 328: ``yes''; Rollcall No. 329: ``no''; Rollcall No. 330: ``yes.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, on June 12, 2006, the organizers of the Dan Daniel Charity Golf Tournament, held their 18th tournament at the Andrews Air Force Base Golf facility, named for our beloved and honored colleague from Virginia who died serving his 10th term in Congress. Dan Daniel's unqualified support for the fighting men and women of this nation is legendary. Dan was the first Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, House Armed Services Committee and also served as the Chairman of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Panel. He was a man who cared deeply about military readiness and quality of life issues, (exchanges, commissaries, child care centers, bowling alleys, libraries, and golf courses). Dan was an avid golfer; and while this tournament is held in his honor . . . it is for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States. This year, the tournament, together with Averett University, of Danville, Virginia, and the Professional Golf Association of America (PGA) hosted numerous special heroes from the Walter Reed Army Hospital and the Bethesda Naval Center to a special day of fun, relaxation, golf and dinner. The former Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Richard Meyer and Mrs. Meyer joined in the day's festivities to salute our troops. Mr. Speaker, all who played with these wounded warriors feel deeply humbled and proud. All funds generated by this tournament are spent at the Andrews Air Force Base facility to support the base morale, welfare and recreation activities. Profits from the tournament are directed to supporting military scholarship programs. This tournament has strong support from the Congress, business and military resale community. Our Nation is strong because of the brave members of the Armed Forces. Those with us from Walter Reed and Bethesda are among a very special group who have demonstrated, through their personal courage and sacrifice that our nation remains strong and determined. These proud patriots continue to inspire this generation of America. The PGA is a true friend of our military forces and their families. We often see pictures of our soldiers hitting golf balls in the deserts of Afghanistan, Iraq and off ships at sea. The PGA constantly provides guidance, instruction, training and certification to our military golf managers and golf course operators. Mr. Paul Bogin, Chief Operating Officer of the PGA, is retiring at the end of June. Mr. Paul Bogin's outstanding leadership has significantly advanced the interest of golf, especially in the Special Olympics, The National Amputee Golf Outings, minority golf and inner city youth programs. His leadership has improved all aspects of military golf, both here at home and also at bases located overseas. The military courses operate with nonappropriated funds and at no expense to the taxpayer. The PGA and National Amputee Golf Association conduct clinics at Veterans Hospitals and teach physical therapist how to use golf as a rehabilitative program for the disabled. Efforts are now underway to develop a program for our wounded military. Mr. Bogin's dedication, leadership and devotion have improved the game of golf, individual golfers, and the military. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the founders and supporters of this great golf event and I congratulate the PGA, sponsors and players, especially our wounded warriors who played in this tournament. I wish Paul Bogin continued success, best wishes and a happy retirement. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the organizers of the Dan Daniel Golf Tournament, and Mr. Bogin, for their continuing dedication to our military forces.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to weather delays, I was unable to vote during the following rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated below: Rollcall No. 289: ``yea''; rollcall No. 290: ``yea''; and rollcall No. 291: ``yea.''

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, you know, this resolution before us today commends our troops, and we realize that our troops are the greatest in the world. This Nation must never forget that. And, of course, we all agree that Saddam should have been removed. The problem was our tactics, our planning. But this resolution nowhere addresses the central issue that the American people are crying out for us to discuss: Where do we go from here? I think that the American people want an honest discussion about where this Nation stands in the two wars that we are prosecuting today, and in particular Iraq. I think that we owe this to the American people who are risking their lives on a daily basis. We owe it to their families, to the American people, and to our allies. Supporting our troops means more than bumper stickers on trucks, though of course we appreciate those people that put on the bumper stickers. We appreciate that. But it is time to talk about the bottom line in terms of soldiers, their blood, their future, their hopes, hopes for the young people of this great country and the people in Iraq, their young people. I wish the resolution before us provided the context for this debate. Honest discussion must include the nuts and bolts of this policy, literally what we are expending daily in Iraq. You know, when we talk about the policy, are we going to allow for us to conduct another preemptive attack? Was this the wise thing to do? Was the planning correct? Do we need to correct our mistakes? Do we need to change the training? These are the things we need to look at. If we truly want the Iraqis to stand up and protect their country, and if we are ever ready to stand down, to stand down, are we ready to put the money in the budget? I just came from a hearing a few moments ago and we are having problems buying helmets to protect our soldiers. We don't have a uniform policy on what helmets will protect the soldiers. Our soldiers don't have the equipment that they need, and for us to stand down, we need to provide the Iraqi army what they need, the equipment. And we wonder, because we haven't been able to do that for our troops. Our military is the best. It has been feared throughout the ages for our ability to respond immediately anywhere in the world, to be ready to defend our freedom. I do support our troops.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Thank you so much, Jim. Tonight we want to begin an honest discussion about where this Nation stands in the war that we are prosecuting. And I think that we owe this to the young men and women whose lives are on the line each day, their families, their futures. Supporting the troops has got to mean more than bumper stickers on pickup trucks, my friends. We need to give them what they need. You know, it wasn't too long ago when my good friend Congressman Reyes and I and about eight other bipartisan Members took a trip to visit 25 military bases around this country. In 4 days we visited 25 bases that were in deplorable condition. We were here in this facility on 9/11 having a press conference to let the American people know where we stood and the conditions of the bases that we inspected, the infrastructure. A few minutes after that, a plane struck the Pentagon. We never were able to give the American people the conditions of the military bases. I have been to Afghanistan, and I have been to Iraq. But nobody has been to Iraq more than my good friend Congressman Reyes. And I would like for him to give us an assessment. He is a veteran. He has been to Iraq more than any other Member. My friends, let us be honest with the American people and tell the American people what we need to do.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bobby Morrow, of South Texas, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his shattering Jesse Owens' 20-year-old record in the 200-meter dash to gain the title of world's fastest person in 1956. Mr. Morrow is a legendary athlete and hero to people all over South Texas and the country. As a native of South Texas, Bobby Morrow began his long and distinguished track career at San Benito High School in San Benito, Texas. There Mr. Morrow won a state championship in the 100-meter dash. His high school success soon brought many offers from universities to run track in college. Bobby Morrow chose Abilene Christian College (now University) to pursue his dreams of racing. Bobby Morrow honed his lightning starts and sharpened his skills to dominate the 100- and 200-meter dashes in the 1950s. In 1955, Mr. Morrow won the AAU national title in the 100-meter dash. The next year, in 1956, he successfully defended his 200-meter title and added an AAU championship in the 200-meter dash. Bobby Morrow continued his excellence at the amateur level, capped off by qualifying for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, joining an American team with an established pedigree. During those 1956 Olympic Games, Morrow achieved legendary status, becoming the first person since Jesse Owens to win gold in the 100- and 200-meter races. He then won a third gold medal while anchoring the United States' worldrecord-setting 400- meter relay team. During the 1956 Olympic games, Morrow not only won gold medals, but he won them in record breaking fashion. Morrow gained the title of ``world's fastest person'' by breaking Jesse Owens 200-meter world- record time that had stood for 20 years. Morrow's accomplishments were widely celebrated in South Texas and all across the United States. Mr. Morrow appeared on the cover of Life Magazine; and Sports Illustrated named him the ``Sportsman of the Year.'' Morrow also received the Sullivan Award, given each year to honor the nation's top athlete. Throughout the years, Bobby Morrow has continued to accumulate honors and accolades that celebrate his incredible athletic career. In 1975, Morrow was inducted to the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. He was honored by his alma mater when Abilene Christian University placed him the school's Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. In 1989, Morrow was also elected into the Olympic Hall of Fame. Bobby Morrow has been an inspiration to thousands of people in South Texas and across America. His accomplishments on the track have been celebrated and will be celebrated for many years to come. I ask the House of Representatives to join me today in celebrating Mr. Bobby Morrow on the 50th anniversary of his world-record-setting race.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nidharshan Anandasivam, the young Brownsville scholar who came painstakingly close to victory in the 2006 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, placing eighth to beat his personal best during the four years he competed in the national spelling bee contest. As a student from Saint Joseph Academy in Brownsville, Texas, Nidharshan loves learning the origins of words and the way words change through different languages. This hobby helped him qualify through nine intense rounds, correctly spelling difficult words such as ``physis,'' ``festucine,'' and ``wehrmacht.'' All South Texans are proud of this native son. It is one thing to be a great speller; it is another thing to have the ability to compete on live national TV--at such a young age. Nidharshan's success comes from his diligent studying, completing internet spelling courses and spelling study guides daily. In the weeks leading up to the competition, he studied over three hours each day. To be a young teen and have an exceptionally committed resolve for his academic pursuits demonstrate Nidharshan's maturity and hardworking nature. This year's spelling bee featured 275 spellers, which is the most participants in the history of the spelling bee. To place eighth out of 275 participants is an incredible experience that Nidharshan can cherish for the rest of his life. I congratulate Nidharshan Anandasivam on his achievement of placing eighth in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. I ask the House of Representatives to join me today in commending this outstanding scholar for his unwavering determination and dedication. Mr. Speaker, this young teen has inspired us and made us exceptionally proud.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in recognizing Mr. Jose Coronado, Director of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System to show our appreciation for his life long career in public service, culminating in ensuring the best possible health care to the veterans of South Texas. Mr. Coronado, a U.S. Army veteran who served as Battalion Operations Sergeant in the 11th Armored Calvary Division, was awarded both the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Outstanding Service Award. After his service in the Army, Jose received his B.S. in Chemistry and Zoology from Texas A&I-Kingsville, and went on to earn an M.S. in Education Administration there before receiving a M.H.A. in Hospital Administration from Baylor University. Jose Coronado then began his career in Veterans Administration to improve the care given to the thousands of Americans who risked their lives for this country. In 1962, he started with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Houston, continuing his work in Kerrville, Texas. In 1973, Mr. Coronado became Assistant Director of the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas; two years later, he was appointed Hospital Director. There, he served America's veterans for 20 years, ensuring the efforts and sacrifices of America's warriors would not be forgotten. He contributed to saving the lives of countless veterans through improved services. When the Kerrville and Audie L. Murphy Veterans Hospitals merged in 1995, Jose Coronado directed the new South Texas Veterans Health Care System. He has overseen an extensive network of health care delivers and operated an intricate health care system with many varying divisions of expertise. As Director, Jose Coronado was recognized many times for the outstanding service he provided to America's veterans. He was awarded the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives by both Ronald Reagan and George Bush. In 1999, President Bill Clinton presented Mr. Coronado with the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executives. While Jose received countless awards over the years, his distinguished character and his quiet ability to find solutions for our veterans were central to his dedicated service to the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. I ask the House of Representatives to join me today in celebrating Mr. Jose Coronado's commitment to those veterans who dedicated their lives for American freedom. His tireless efforts have provided the medical assistance that South Texas veterans earned from uniformed service to our country.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, this month Capitol Hill saw the departure of one of the most talented people in Texas politics today, my just- retired Chief of Staff, my former Chief Deputy Sheriff in our other lives, my campaign advisor, my little brother, my best friend--some have even called him my ``alter ego'' Lencho Rendon. Lencho is a legend in the House of Representatives and counts many, many friends here in this Chamber . . . friends he will remain close to in this next chapter of his life. Several of them join me in bidding our friend and counselor farewell, but not goodbye. Lencho and I met not too long after I was elected Nueces County Sheriff in South Texas in 1976. He was working for the Webb County Sheriffs office and a DEA Task Force; and he was beginning to make a reputation for himself as one of the absolute best at finding the druggies and getting evidence on them. He was a master at that, and his detective and undercover work were monumentally dangerous just about every day. By the grace of God, Lencho lived to talk about--or not talk about--the everyday danger of living undercover to catch the bad guys. He ran my first campaign for Congress, a task he took on each election cycle--and he remains my campaign chairman. In Texas, Lencho is the guy you go to when you want to hear the straight scoop. He can find the bottom line . . . and see around the comers . . . and strategize a way to get you where you want to go. He works on numerous campaigns in South Texas during election season, and he understands the precise--yet nuanced--intersection of politics, policy, people, and the art of the possible. Here on the Hill and in the international community, Lencho has made more friends than we can count. He employs the same skills on Capitol Hill he learned and practices in South Texas: figure out where you want to go, and he can find a way to get you there. He is widely respected by both Members of Congress and Capitol Hill staff members. But it has been me and my staff members--here and in Texas--that have felt his absence most abruptly and most profoundly. We haven't missed a beat in our work for South Texans, but we have missed the presence of the man that we all respect and we all love. You grow so close to people with whom you stand in campaigns. Lencho is unbelievably talented on so many levels, and has a deep and abiding compassion for people and families. It's an old rule of politics: people that campaign together will always be there for each other. That is certainly true for me and my organization, but it's true for most every political organization. And so it will be--Lencho remains a trusted member of my family, and I will always seek his counsel on matters political and personal. I know he remains a trusted member of this Capitol Hill family.

Mr. ORTIZ

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with the House a monumental discovery made by scientists in my district that will make it easier for space scientists to map black holes in space. This breathaking discovery on gravitational waves was made by researchers at the University of Texas at Brownsville, and allows scientists--for the first time--to study the warping of space and time produced by colliding black holes. Now, I'm no rocket scientist--but UTB's gravitational wave studies universal breakthrough will give researchers and other space scientists greater insight into one of the most cataclysmic astrophysical events predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity, the merger of two black holes. Given that most of us are not scientists, let me just say that this remarkable discovery will guide astrophysicists as they learn more about the origin and history of the supermassive black holes which reside at the core of most galaxies, including our own Milky Way. Black hole merger models are always challenging to build due to their unique and unknown nature. Black holes in space are regions where gravity is so intense that nothing, including light itself, can evade their pull. Because their mergers generate a remarkably strong burst of gravitational waves when they approach and collide, lasting for years at a time, they affect both space and time by producing ripples in the curved geometry of the universe. This shift in the concept Einstein defined as ``spacetime'' has proven to be a difficult task for computer simulations to execute or follow. Yet UTB scientists M. Campanelli, C.O. Lousto and Y. Zlochower devised a novel technique for properly representing black holes during such collisions, which is why UTB's breakthrough is an epic contribution in the study of our universe. This extraordinary discovery will enable scientists to verify Einstein's famed theory of general relativity--and specifically his theory of spacetime curvature. Results from this discovery will prepare the NASA/European Space Agency's 2015 gravitational wave mission, which aims to detect the gravitational waves produced from supermassive black hole collisions, also considered the most potent source of energy in the universe. Physicists at UTB's Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy have made exceptional progress in their field through this development, which is a reflection of their extensive dedication and sheer creativity. Through such efforts, they are establishing south Texas as a force in space science issues and as a leader in innovation. Several groups have attempted to reach a solution to the computational complications involved in gravitational wave detection, leaving most researchers predicting that this elusive discovery would be incremental, through an arduous series of small improvements. UTB scientists, however, have contradicted this belief with their out-of- the-box thinking and relentless perseverance. Despite a lack of equipment and economic resources, UTB scientists utilized the least sophisticated computer systems and relied on their stellar ingenuity to achieve a revolutionary breakthrough, the sort that comes along between every 10-50 years. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in applauding a group of intellectuals whose vision and brilliance are truly ahead of their time. These south Texans have inspired us today and changed the way our world will see the future.